diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index 2b33cda3c..846f89f7f 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -887,6 +887,10 @@ class HintManager(QObject):
             Target.spawn: self._spawn,
         }
         elem = self._context.elems[keystr].elem
+        if elem.webFrame() is None:
+            message.error(self._win_id, "This element has no webframe.",
+                          immediately=True)
+            return
         if self._context.target in elem_handlers:
             handler = functools.partial(
                 elem_handlers[self._context.target], elem, self._context)