diff --git a/browser/api/lib/menu.coffee b/browser/api/lib/menu.coffee
index 0fadb0bb92dd..2d753da3e6fd 100644
--- a/browser/api/lib/menu.coffee
+++ b/browser/api/lib/menu.coffee
@@ -10,6 +10,14 @@ Menu::popup = (window) ->
 
   popup.call this, window
 
+insertSubMenu = Menu::insertSubMenu
+Menu::insertSubMenu = (index, command_id, label, submenu) ->
+  throw new TypeError('Invalid menu') unless submenu?.constructor is Menu
+
+  @menus = [] unless Array.isArray @menus
+  @menus.push submenu # prevent submenu from getting destroyed
+  insertSubMenu.apply this, arguments
+
 Menu::appendItem = (args...) -> @insertItem -1, args...
 Menu::appendCheckItem = (args...) -> @insertCheckItem -1, args...
 Menu::appendRadioItem = (args...) -> @insertRadioItem -1, args...