diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/messagebox.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/messagebox.cpp
index c103bcb8b8..a6b9025ce4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/messagebox.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/messagebox.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ void MessageBoxManager::onFrame (float frameDuration)
     std::vector<MessageBoxManagerTimer>::iterator it;
     for(it = mTimers.begin(); it != mTimers.end();)
     {
+        // if this messagebox is already deleted, remove the timer and move on
+        if (std::find(mMessageBoxes.begin(), mMessageBoxes.end(), it->messageBox) == mMessageBoxes.end())
+        {
+            it = mTimers.erase(it);
+            continue;
+        }
+
         it->current += frameDuration;
         if(it->current >= it->max)
         {