diff --git a/tests/unit/button/button_tickets.js b/tests/unit/button/button_tickets.js
index 846ca7ef4..eb70181ec 100644
--- a/tests/unit/button/button_tickets.js
+++ b/tests/unit/button/button_tickets.js
@@ -61,4 +61,12 @@ test( "#7534 - Button label selector works for ids with \":\"", function() {
 	ok( group.find( "label" ).is( ".ui-button" ), "Found an id with a :" );
 });
 
+test( "#8237 - Anchor tags lose disabled state when refreshed", function() {
+	expect( 1 );
+	var element = $( "<a id='a8237'></a>" ).appendTo( "#qunit-fixture" );
+
+	element.button({ disabled: true }).button( "refresh" );
+	ok( element.button( "option", "disabled" ), "Anchor button should remain disabled after refresh" );
+});
+
 })( jQuery );
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.button.js b/ui/jquery.ui.button.js
index 5ae526488..f253464df 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.button.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.button.js
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.button", {
 	},
 
 	refresh: function() {
-		var isDisabled = this.element.is( ":disabled" );
+		var isDisabled = this.element.is( ":disabled" ) || this.element.hasClass( "ui-button-disabled" );
 		if ( isDisabled !== this.options.disabled ) {
 			this._setOption( "disabled", isDisabled );
 		}