diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js b/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js
index b474394676..f4cf4094ab 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/overlay.js
@@ -1075,6 +1075,11 @@ var ZoteroPane = new function()
 	
 	
 	function duplicateSelectedItem() {
+		var ps = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/embedcomp/prompt-service;1"]
+										.getService(Components.interfaces.nsIPromptService);
+		ps.alert(null, "Error", "Item duplication is not available in this Zotero release.");
+		return;
+		
 		var newItem = this.getSelectedItems()[0].clone();
 		var newItemID = newItem.save()
 		var newItem = Zotero.Items.get(newItemID);