--- a/docshell/base/nsDocShell.cpp
+++ b/docshell/base/nsDocShell.cpp
@@ -9189,16 +9189,18 @@ nsDocShell::InternalLoad(nsIURI* aURI,
   }
 
   if (!aURI) {
     return NS_ERROR_NULL_POINTER;
   }
 
   NS_ENSURE_TRUE(IsValidLoadType(aLoadType), NS_ERROR_INVALID_ARG);
 
+  // If this docshell is being destroyed, we'll run into assertions even if we
+  // have a different window target and are not loading into. Bail early.
   NS_ENSURE_TRUE(!mIsBeingDestroyed, NS_ERROR_NOT_AVAILABLE);
 
   rv = EnsureScriptEnvironment();
   if (NS_FAILED(rv)) {
     return rv;
   }
 
   // wyciwyg urls can only be loaded through history. Any normal load of
@@ -9566,24 +9568,16 @@ nsDocShell::InternalLoad(nsIURI* aURI,
     }
 
     // Else we ran out of memory, or were a popup and got blocked,
     // or something.
 
     return rv;
   }
 
-  //
-  // Load is being targetted at this docshell so return an error if the
-  // docshell is in the process of being destroyed.
-  //
-  if (mIsBeingDestroyed) {
-    return NS_ERROR_FAILURE;
-  }
-
   NS_ENSURE_STATE(!HasUnloadedParent());
 
   rv = CheckLoadingPermissions();
   if (NS_FAILED(rv)) {
     return rv;
   }
 
   if (mFiredUnloadEvent) {