diff --git a/src/share/classes/java/awt/MenuBar.java b/src/share/classes/java/awt/MenuBar.java
index 7624b9d370cd68cc007a50252ab3eed4744d0f17..c941260615c35aed6f292aa07b8206a806ca879f 100644
--- a/src/share/classes/java/awt/MenuBar.java
+++ b/src/share/classes/java/awt/MenuBar.java
@@ -229,9 +229,11 @@ public class MenuBar extends MenuComponent implements MenuContainer, Accessible
                 if (m.peer == null) {
                     m.addNotify();
                 }
+                menus.addElement(m);
                 peer.addMenu(m);
+            } else {
+                menus.addElement(m);
             }
-            menus.addElement(m);
             return m;
         }
     }