diff --git a/dom/base/nsContentUtils.cpp b/dom/base/nsContentUtils.cpp
index fe5f5cfa74..0869944610 100644
--- a/dom/base/nsContentUtils.cpp
+++ b/dom/base/nsContentUtils.cpp
@@ -2721,7 +2721,7 @@ nsContentUtils::SubjectPrincipal()
   MOZ_ASSERT(NS_IsMainThread());
   JSContext* cx = GetCurrentJSContext();
   if (!cx) {
-    MOZ_CRASH("Accessing the Subject Principal without an AutoJSAPI on the stack is forbidden");
+    return GetSystemPrincipal();
   }
 
   JSCompartment *compartment = js::GetContextCompartment(cx);