diff --git a/src/java.desktop/macosx/native/libawt_lwawt/awt/a11y/MenuAccessibility.m b/src/java.desktop/macosx/native/libawt_lwawt/awt/a11y/MenuAccessibility.m
index 90a147aa5a21..14b7ee8c6b5f 100644
--- a/src/java.desktop/macosx/native/libawt_lwawt/awt/a11y/MenuAccessibility.m
+++ b/src/java.desktop/macosx/native/libawt_lwawt/awt/a11y/MenuAccessibility.m
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ - (NSArray *)accessibilityChildren {
                                                              sjm_getCurrentAccessiblePopupMenu,
                                                              fAccessible, fComponent);
 
+    CHECK_EXCEPTION();
+    if (axComponent == nil) {
+        return nil;
+    }
+
     CommonComponentAccessibility *currentElement = [CommonComponentAccessibility createWithAccessible:axComponent
                                                             withEnv:env withView:self->fView isCurrent:YES];