--- a/layout/base/nsPresShell.cpp
+++ b/layout/base/nsPresShell.cpp
@@ -5274,17 +5274,18 @@ PresShell::RenderNode(nsIDOMNode* aNode,
 
   // nothing to draw if the node isn't in a document
   nsCOMPtr<nsINode> node = do_QueryInterface(aNode);
   if (!node->IsInDoc())
     return nsnull;
   
   nsCOMPtr<nsIDOMRange> range;
   NS_NewRange(getter_AddRefs(range));
-  range->SelectNode(aNode);
+  if (NS_FAILED(range->SelectNode(aNode)))
+    return nsnull;
 
   RangePaintInfo* info = CreateRangePaintInfo(range, area);
   if (info && !rangeItems.AppendElement(info)) {
     delete info;
     return nsnull;
   }
 
   if (aRegion) {