--- src/galeon-tab.c
+++ src/galeon-tab.c
@@ -558,6 +558,19 @@
 	
 	g_return_if_fail (IS_GALEON_TAB (G_OBJECT (tab)));
 	
+	/* XXX amazingly ugly attempt to work around bugs
+	 * http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=72125 and
+	 * http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=127694
+	 */
+	if (is_active)
+	{
+		gtk_widget_show (GTK_WIDGET (tab->priv->embed));
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		gtk_widget_unrealize (GTK_WIDGET (tab->priv->embed));
+	}
+	
 	tab->priv->is_active = is_active;
 
        	status = galeon_tab_get_load_status (tab);
