diff --git a/src/orca/focus_tracking_presenter.py b/src/orca/focus_tracking_presenter.py
index ca580b0..dae1a36 100644
--- a/src/orca/focus_tracking_presenter.py
+++ b/src/orca/focus_tracking_presenter.py
@@ -537,8 +537,12 @@ class FocusTrackingPresenter(presentation_manager.PresentationManager):
             # can cause hangs.
             #
             if event.source:
-                state = event.source.getState()
-                if state.contains(pyatspi.STATE_DEFUNCT):
+                state = None
+                try:
+                    state = event.source.getState()
+                except LookupError:
+                    pass
+                if state == None or state.contains(pyatspi.STATE_DEFUNCT):
                     debug.println(debug.LEVEL_FINEST,
                                   "IGNORING DEFUNCT OBJECT")
                     if event.type.startswith("window:deactivate"):