diff --git a/docs/user/interface/MenuItem.dox b/docs/user/interface/MenuItem.dox
index 147a506296..cb2510fc3f 100644
--- a/docs/user/interface/MenuItem.dox
+++ b/docs/user/interface/MenuItem.dox
@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@
 	\fn BMenuItem::~BMenuItem()
 	\brief Destructor.
 
-	Also frees the memory used by the label or submenu.
+	If this item is attached to a menu, it will be removed from it.
+
+	Also destroys the label and submenu.
 
 	\since BeOS R3
 */
diff --git a/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp b/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp
index c28ce3f732..2d49398c01 100644
--- a/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/interface/MenuItem.cpp
@@ -181,6 +181,9 @@ BMenuItem::Archive(BMessage* data, bool deep) const
 
 BMenuItem::~BMenuItem()
 {
+	if (fSuper != NULL)
+		fSuper->RemoveItem(this);
+
 	free(fLabel);
 	delete fSubmenu;
 }