diff --git a/tests/unit/tabs/tabs_events.js b/tests/unit/tabs/tabs_events.js
index 72c6d29e1..d5e2b04c3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/tabs/tabs_events.js
+++ b/tests/unit/tabs/tabs_events.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 module( "tabs: events" );
 
 test( "beforeActivate", function() {
-	expect( 26 );
+	expect( 38 );
 
 	var element = $( "#tabs1" ).tabs({
 			// TODO: should be false
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ test( "beforeActivate", function() {
 		tabs = element.find( ".ui-tabs-nav a" ),
 		panels = element.find( ".ui-tabs-panel" );
 
+	// from collapsed
 	element.one( "tabsbeforeactivate", function( event, ui ) {
+		ok( !( "originalEvent" in event ) );
 		equals( ui.oldTab.size(), 0 );
 		equals( ui.oldPanel.size(), 0 );
 		equals( ui.newTab.size(), 1 );
@@ -25,7 +27,9 @@ test( "beforeActivate", function() {
 	element.tabs( "option", "active", 0 );
 	tabs_state( element, 1, 0, 0 );
 
+	// switching tabs
 	element.one( "tabsbeforeactivate", function( event, ui ) {
+		equals( event.originalEvent.type, "click" );
 		equals( ui.oldTab.size(), 1 );
 		strictEqual( ui.oldTab[ 0 ], tabs[ 0 ] );
 		equals( ui.oldPanel.size(), 1 );
@@ -36,10 +40,12 @@ test( "beforeActivate", function() {
 		strictEqual( ui.newPanel[ 0 ], panels[ 1 ] );
 		tabs_state( element, 1, 0, 0 );
 	});
-	element.tabs( "option", "active", 1 );
+	tabs.eq( 1 ).click();
 	tabs_state( element, 0, 1, 0 );
 
+	// collapsing
 	element.one( "tabsbeforeactivate", function( event, ui ) {
+		ok( !( "originalEvent" in event ) );
 		equals( ui.oldTab.size(), 1 );
 		strictEqual( ui.oldTab[ 0 ], tabs[ 1 ] );
 		equals( ui.oldPanel.size(), 1 );
@@ -50,6 +56,21 @@ test( "beforeActivate", function() {
 	});
 	element.tabs( "option", "active", false );
 	tabs_state( element, 0, 0, 0 );
+
+	// prevent activation
+	element.one( "tabsbeforeactivate", function( event, ui ) {
+		ok( !( "originalEvent" in event ) );
+		equals( ui.oldTab.size(), 0 );
+		equals( ui.oldPanel.size(), 0 );
+		equals( ui.newTab.size(), 1 );
+		strictEqual( ui.newTab[ 0 ], tabs[ 1 ] );
+		equals( ui.newPanel.size(), 1 );
+		strictEqual( ui.newPanel[ 0 ], panels[ 1 ] );
+		event.preventDefault();
+		tabs_state( element, 0, 0, 0 );
+	});
+	element.tabs( "option", "active", 1 );
+	tabs_state( element, 0, 0, 0 );
 });
 
 test('beforeload', function() {
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.tabs.js b/ui/jquery.ui.tabs.js
index d5ed5e67e..99c561607 100755
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.tabs.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.tabs.js
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ $.widget( "ui.tabs", {
 
 		options.active = collapsing ? false : that.anchors.index( clicked );
 
-		that.active = clicked;
+		that.active = clickedIsActive ? $() : clicked;
 		if ( that.xhr ) {
 			that.xhr.abort();
 		}
@@ -422,12 +422,12 @@ $.widget( "ui.tabs", {
 		var active = this._findActive( index )[ 0 ];
 
 		// trying to activate the already active panel
-		if ( this.active && active === this.active[ 0 ] ) {
+		if ( active === this.active[ 0 ] ) {
 			return;
 		}
 
 		// trying to collapse, simulate a click on the current active header
-		active = active || this.active;
+		active = active || this.active[ 0 ];
 
 		this._eventHandler({
 			target: active,