diff --git a/mozilla/xpfe/global/resources/content/bindings/tabbrowser.xml b/mozilla/xpfe/global/resources/content/bindings/tabbrowser.xml
index b8685e4f848..aed579ef6a8 100644
--- a/mozilla/xpfe/global/resources/content/bindings/tabbrowser.xml
+++ b/mozilla/xpfe/global/resources/content/bindings/tabbrowser.xml
@@ -731,10 +731,7 @@
             var oldTab = aTab;
             
             // clean up the before/afterselected attributes before removing the tab
-            if (index > 0)
-              this.mTabContainer.childNodes[index-1].removeAttribute("beforeselected");
-            if (index < this.mTabContainer.childNodes.length - 1)
-              this.mTabContainer.childNodes[index+1].removeAttribute("afterselected");
+            oldTab.selected = false;
 
             this.mTabContainer.removeChild(oldTab);
             this.mPanelContainer.removeChild(oldBrowser);