diff --git a/src/com/android/dialer/DialtactsActivity.java b/src/com/android/dialer/DialtactsActivity.java
index dbff276..3ca04df 100644
--- a/src/com/android/dialer/DialtactsActivity.java
+++ b/src/com/android/dialer/DialtactsActivity.java
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@
      */
     private SmartDialSearchFragment mSmartDialSearchFragment;
 
+    private boolean mIsVisible;
+
     /**
      * Animation that slides in.
      */
@@ -563,6 +565,25 @@
     }
 
     @Override
+    protected void onStart() {
+        super.onStart();
+        mIsVisible = true;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void onStop() {
+        mIsVisible = false;
+        super.onStop();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns true when the Activity is currently visible (between onStart and onStop).
+     */
+    /* package */ boolean isVisible() {
+        return mIsVisible;
+    }
+
+    @Override
     protected void onPause() {
         if (mClearSearchOnPause) {
             hideDialpadAndSearchUi();
@@ -576,6 +597,7 @@
 
     @Override
     protected void onSaveInstanceState(Bundle outState) {
+        mIsVisible = false;
         super.onSaveInstanceState(outState);
         outState.putString(KEY_SEARCH_QUERY, mSearchQuery);
         outState.putBoolean(KEY_IN_REGULAR_SEARCH_UI, mInRegularSearch);
@@ -648,6 +670,10 @@
 
     @Override
     public boolean onMenuItemClick(MenuItem item) {
+        if (!isVisible()) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
         switch (item.getItemId()) {
             case R.id.menu_history:
                 // Use explicit CallLogActivity intent instead of ACTION_VIEW +