diff --git a/content/media/nsAudioStream.cpp b/content/media/nsAudioStream.cpp
index 4edf86d0546..f02b34acd46 100644
--- a/content/media/nsAudioStream.cpp
+++ b/content/media/nsAudioStream.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class nsAudioStreamRemote : public nsAudioStream
   PRInt64 GetSampleOffset();
   PRBool IsPaused();
 
-  AudioChild* mAudioChild;
+  nsRefPtr<AudioChild> mAudioChild;
 
   SampleFormat mFormat;
   int mRate;
@@ -149,12 +149,6 @@ class nsAudioStreamRemote : public nsAudioStream
   PRInt32 mBytesPerSample;
 
   friend class AudioInitEvent;
-  friend class AudioShutdownEvent;
-  friend class AudioWriteEvent;
-  friend class AudioSetVolumeEvent;
-  friend class AudioPauseEvent;
-  friend class AudioDrainEvent;
-  friend class AudioGetSampleEvent;
 };
 
 class AudioInitEvent : public nsRunnable
@@ -181,27 +175,27 @@ class AudioInitEvent : public nsRunnable
 class AudioWriteEvent : public nsRunnable
 {
  public:
-  AudioWriteEvent(nsAudioStreamRemote* owner,
+  AudioWriteEvent(AudioChild* aChild,
                   const void* aBuf,
                   PRUint32 aNumberOfSamples,
                   PRUint32 aBytesPerSample)
   {    
-    mOwner = owner;
+    mAudioChild = aChild;
     mBytesPerSample = aBytesPerSample;
     mBuffer.Assign((const char*)aBuf, aNumberOfSamples*aBytesPerSample);
   }
 
   NS_IMETHOD Run()
   {
-    if (!mOwner->mAudioChild)
+    if (!mAudioChild->IsIPCOpen())
       return NS_OK;
 
-    mOwner->mAudioChild->SendWrite(mBuffer,
-                                   mBuffer.Length() / mBytesPerSample);
+    mAudioChild->SendWrite(mBuffer,
+                           mBuffer.Length() / mBytesPerSample);
     return NS_OK;
   }
 
-  nsRefPtr<nsAudioStreamRemote> mOwner;
+  nsRefPtr<AudioChild> mAudioChild;
   nsCString mBuffer;
   PRUint32 mBytesPerSample;
 };
@@ -209,73 +203,90 @@ class AudioWriteEvent : public nsRunnable
 class AudioSetVolumeEvent : public nsRunnable
 {
  public:
-  AudioSetVolumeEvent(nsAudioStreamRemote* owner, float volume)
+  AudioSetVolumeEvent(AudioChild* aChild, float volume)
   {
-    mOwner = owner;
+    mAudioChild = aChild;
     mVolume = volume;
   }
 
   NS_IMETHOD Run()
   {
-    if (!mOwner->mAudioChild)
+    if (!mAudioChild->IsIPCOpen())
       return NS_OK;
 
-    mOwner->mAudioChild->SendSetVolume(mVolume);
+    mAudioChild->SendSetVolume(mVolume);
     return NS_OK;
   }
   
-  nsRefPtr<nsAudioStreamRemote> mOwner;
+  nsRefPtr<AudioChild> mAudioChild;
   float mVolume;
 };
 
 class AudioDrainEvent : public nsRunnable
 {
  public:
-  AudioDrainEvent(nsAudioStreamRemote* owner)
+  AudioDrainEvent(AudioChild* aChild)
   {
-    mOwner = owner;
+    mAudioChild = aChild;
   }
 
   NS_IMETHOD Run()
   {
-    if (!mOwner->mAudioChild)
+    if (!mAudioChild->IsIPCOpen())
       return NS_OK;
 
-    mOwner->mAudioChild->SendDrain();
+    mAudioChild->SendDrain();
     return NS_OK;
   }
   
-  nsRefPtr<nsAudioStreamRemote> mOwner;
+  nsRefPtr<AudioChild> mAudioChild;
 };
 
 
 class AudioPauseEvent : public nsRunnable
 {
  public:
-  AudioPauseEvent(nsAudioStreamRemote* owner, PRBool pause)
+  AudioPauseEvent(AudioChild* aChild, PRBool pause)
   {
-    mOwner = owner;
+    mAudioChild = aChild;
     mPause = pause;
   }
 
   NS_IMETHOD Run()
   {
-    if (!mOwner->mAudioChild)
+    if (!mAudioChild->IsIPCOpen())
       return NS_OK;
 
     if (mPause)
-      mOwner->mAudioChild->SendPause();
+      mAudioChild->SendPause();
     else
-      mOwner->mAudioChild->SendResume();
+      mAudioChild->SendResume();
 
     return NS_OK;
   }
   
-  nsRefPtr<nsAudioStreamRemote> mOwner;
+  nsRefPtr<AudioChild> mAudioChild;
   PRBool mPause;
 };
 
 
+class AudioShutdownEvent : public nsRunnable
+{
+ public:
+  AudioShutdownEvent(AudioChild* aChild)
+  {
+    mAudioChild = aChild;
+  }
+
+  NS_IMETHOD Run()
+  {
+    if (mAudioChild->IsIPCOpen())
+      PAudioChild::Send__delete__(mAudioChild);
+    return NS_OK;
+  }
+  
+  nsRefPtr<AudioChild> mAudioChild;
+};
 #endif // MOZ_IPC
 
 
@@ -602,14 +613,17 @@ nsAudioStreamRemote::Init(PRInt32 aNumChannels,
   }
 
   nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioInitEvent(this);
-  NS_DispatchToMainThread(event);
+  NS_DispatchToMainThread(event, NS_DISPATCH_SYNC);
   return NS_OK;
 }
 
 void
 nsAudioStreamRemote::Shutdown()
 {
-  PAudioChild::Send__delete__(mAudioChild);
+  if (!mAudioChild)
+    return;
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioShutdownEvent(mAudioChild);
+  NS_DispatchToMainThread(event);
   mAudioChild = nsnull;
 }
 
@@ -618,7 +632,9 @@ nsAudioStreamRemote::Write(const void* aBuf,
                            PRUint32 aCount,
                            PRBool aBlocking)
 {
-  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioWriteEvent(this,
+  if (!mAudioChild)
+    return NS_ERROR_FAILURE;
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioWriteEvent(mAudioChild,
                                                     aBuf,
                                                     aCount,
                                                     mBytesPerSample);
@@ -635,14 +651,18 @@ nsAudioStreamRemote::Available()
 void
 nsAudioStreamRemote::SetVolume(float aVolume)
 {
-  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioSetVolumeEvent(this, aVolume);
+  if (!mAudioChild)
+    return;
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioSetVolumeEvent(mAudioChild, aVolume);
   NS_DispatchToMainThread(event);
 }
 
 void
 nsAudioStreamRemote::Drain()
 {
-  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioDrainEvent(this);
+  if (!mAudioChild)
+    return;
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioDrainEvent(mAudioChild);
   NS_DispatchToMainThread(event, NS_DISPATCH_SYNC);
 }
  
@@ -650,7 +670,9 @@ void
 nsAudioStreamRemote::Pause()
 {
   mPaused = PR_TRUE;
-  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioPauseEvent(this, PR_TRUE);
+  if (!mAudioChild)
+    return;
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioPauseEvent(mAudioChild, PR_TRUE);
   NS_DispatchToMainThread(event);
 }
 
@@ -658,7 +680,9 @@ void
 nsAudioStreamRemote::Resume()
 {
   mPaused = PR_FALSE;
-  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioPauseEvent(this, PR_FALSE);
+  if (!mAudioChild)
+    return;
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioPauseEvent(mAudioChild, PR_FALSE);
   NS_DispatchToMainThread(event);
 }
 
diff --git a/dom/ipc/AudioChild.cpp b/dom/ipc/AudioChild.cpp
index 243bcec0b65..d2b6502ef85 100644
--- a/dom/ipc/AudioChild.cpp
+++ b/dom/ipc/AudioChild.cpp
@@ -42,9 +42,13 @@
 namespace mozilla {
 namespace dom {
 
+NS_IMPL_THREADSAFE_ADDREF(AudioChild);
+NS_IMPL_THREADSAFE_RELEASE(AudioChild);
+
 AudioChild::AudioChild()
   : mLastSampleOffset(-1),
-    mLastSampleOffsetTime(0)
+    mLastSampleOffsetTime(0),
+    mIPCOpen(PR_TRUE)
 {
   MOZ_COUNT_CTOR(AudioChild);
 }
@@ -54,6 +58,12 @@ AudioChild::~AudioChild()
   MOZ_COUNT_DTOR(AudioChild);
 }
 
+void
+AudioChild::ActorDestroy(ActorDestroyReason aWhy)
+{
+  mIPCOpen = PR_FALSE;
+}
+
 bool
 AudioChild::RecvSampleOffsetUpdate(const PRInt64& offset,
                                    const PRInt64& time)
diff --git a/dom/ipc/AudioChild.h b/dom/ipc/AudioChild.h
index 1360ae03d3c..93d4572c6e7 100644
--- a/dom/ipc/AudioChild.h
+++ b/dom/ipc/AudioChild.h
@@ -48,14 +48,23 @@ namespace dom {
 class AudioChild : public PAudioChild
 {
  public:
+    NS_IMETHOD_(nsrefcnt) AddRef();
+    NS_IMETHOD_(nsrefcnt) Release();
+
     AudioChild();
     virtual ~AudioChild();
     virtual bool RecvSampleOffsetUpdate(const PRInt64&, const PRInt64&);
+    virtual void ActorDestroy(ActorDestroyReason);
     
     PRInt64 GetLastKnownSampleOffset();
     PRInt64 GetLastKnownSampleOffsetTime();
+
+    PRBool IsIPCOpen() { return mIPCOpen; };
  private:
+    nsAutoRefCnt mRefCnt;
+    NS_DECL_OWNINGTHREAD
     PRInt64 mLastSampleOffset, mLastSampleOffsetTime;
+    PRPackedBool mIPCOpen;
 };
 
 } // namespace dom
diff --git a/dom/ipc/AudioParent.cpp b/dom/ipc/AudioParent.cpp
index 9fa6a690144..5770a95d0b6 100644
--- a/dom/ipc/AudioParent.cpp
+++ b/dom/ipc/AudioParent.cpp
@@ -66,12 +66,35 @@ class AudioWriteEvent : public nsRunnable
     PRUint32  mCount;
 };
 
+class AudioPauseEvent : public nsRunnable
+{
+ public:
+  AudioPauseEvent(nsAudioStream* owner, PRBool aPause)
+  {
+    mOwner = owner;
+    mPause = aPause;
+  }
+
+  NS_IMETHOD Run()
+  {
+    if (mPause)
+        mOwner->Pause();
+    else
+        mOwner->Resume();
+    return NS_OK;
+  }
+
+ private:
+    nsRefPtr<nsAudioStream> mOwner;
+    PRBool mPause;
+};
+
 NS_IMPL_THREADSAFE_ISUPPORTS1(AudioParent, nsITimerCallback)
 
 nsresult
 AudioParent::Notify(nsITimer* timer)
 {
-  if (!mStream) {
+  if (!mIPCOpen || !mStream) {
     timer->Cancel();
     return NS_ERROR_FAILURE;
   }
@@ -110,16 +133,18 @@ AudioParent::RecvDrain()
 bool
 AudioParent::RecvPause()
 {
-  if (mStream)
-    mStream->Pause();
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioPauseEvent(mStream, PR_TRUE);
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIThread> thread = nsAudioStream::GetGlobalThread();
+  thread->Dispatch(event, nsIEventTarget::DISPATCH_NORMAL);
   return true;
 }
 
 bool
 AudioParent::RecvResume()
 {
-  if (mStream)
-    mStream->Resume();
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIRunnable> event = new AudioPauseEvent(mStream, PR_FALSE);
+  nsCOMPtr<nsIThread> thread = nsAudioStream::GetGlobalThread();
+  thread->Dispatch(event, nsIEventTarget::DISPATCH_NORMAL);
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -139,6 +164,7 @@ AudioParent::Recv__delete__()
 }
 
 AudioParent::AudioParent(PRInt32 aNumChannels, PRInt32 aRate, PRInt32 aFormat)
+  : mIPCOpen(PR_TRUE)
 {
   mStream = nsAudioStream::AllocateStream();
   if (mStream)
@@ -156,5 +182,11 @@ AudioParent::~AudioParent()
 {
 }
 
+void
+AudioParent::ActorDestroy(ActorDestroyReason aWhy)
+{
+  mIPCOpen = PR_FALSE;
+}
+
 } // namespace dom
 } // namespace mozilla
diff --git a/dom/ipc/AudioParent.h b/dom/ipc/AudioParent.h
index 260f693352b..2d555164d2f 100644
--- a/dom/ipc/AudioParent.h
+++ b/dom/ipc/AudioParent.h
@@ -75,10 +75,13 @@ class AudioParent : public PAudioParent, public nsITimerCallback
 
     AudioParent(PRInt32 aNumChannels, PRInt32 aRate, PRInt32 aFormat);
     virtual ~AudioParent();
+    virtual void ActorDestroy(ActorDestroyReason);
 
     nsRefPtr<nsAudioStream> mStream;
     nsCOMPtr<nsITimer> mTimer;
 
+private:
+    PRPackedBool mIPCOpen;
 };
 } // namespace dom
 } // namespace mozilla
diff --git a/dom/ipc/ContentChild.cpp b/dom/ipc/ContentChild.cpp
index 36602f15d8f..99a2729e694 100644
--- a/dom/ipc/ContentChild.cpp
+++ b/dom/ipc/ContentChild.cpp
@@ -333,14 +333,16 @@ ContentChild::AllocPAudio(const PRInt32& numChannels,
                           const PRInt32& rate,
                           const PRInt32& format)
 {
-    PAudioChild *child = new AudioChild();
+    AudioChild *child = new AudioChild();
+    NS_ADDREF(child);
     return child;
 }
 
 bool
 ContentChild::DeallocPAudio(PAudioChild* doomed)
 {
-    delete doomed;
+    AudioChild *child = static_cast<AudioChild*>(doomed);
+    NS_RELEASE(child);
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/dom/ipc/ContentParent.cpp b/dom/ipc/ContentParent.cpp
index 7089c419c7f..4b8ce5ed2a5 100644
--- a/dom/ipc/ContentParent.cpp
+++ b/dom/ipc/ContentParent.cpp
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ ContentParent::AllocPAudio(const PRInt32& numChannels,
                            const PRInt32& format)
 {
     AudioParent *parent = new AudioParent(numChannels, rate, format);
-    parent->AddRef();
+    NS_ADDREF(parent);
     return parent;
 }