diff --git a/mozilla/mail/base/content/mailWindowOverlay.js b/mozilla/mail/base/content/mailWindowOverlay.js
index cbc98f72e0d..ce40f388dbc 100644
--- a/mozilla/mail/base/content/mailWindowOverlay.js
+++ b/mozilla/mail/base/content/mailWindowOverlay.js
@@ -2208,6 +2208,12 @@ function OnMsgLoaded(aUrl)
     if (!folder || !msgURI)
       return;
 
+    // If we are in the middle of a delete or move operation, make sure that
+    // if the user clicks on another message then that message stays selected
+    // and the selection does not "snap back" to the message chosen by
+    // SetNextMessageAfterDelete() when the operation completes (bug 243532).
+    gNextMessageViewIndexAfterDelete = -2;
+
     if (!(/type=x-message-display/.test(msgURI)))
       msgHdr = messenger.messageServiceFromURI(msgURI).messageURIToMsgHdr(msgURI);