diff --git a/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_tabs.js b/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_tabs.js
index 8086ecec84..f7bb2e08d9 100644
--- a/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_tabs.js
+++ b/api/js/etemplate/et2_widget_tabs.js
@@ -280,6 +280,11 @@ var et2_tabbox = (function(){ "use strict"; return et2_valueWidget.extend([et2_I
 		if(!tabData || tabData.loaded) return;
 		if(tabData.XMLNode != null)
 		{
+			if(tabData.hidden)
+			{
+				// Set hidden tab to readonly, so widgets aren't active
+				tabData.XMLNode.setAttribute('readonly', true);
+			}
 			tabData.widget = this.createElementFromNode(tabData.XMLNode,tabData.XMLNode.nodeName.toLowerCase());
 
 			// Release the XML node