diff --git a/application/basilisk/base/content/utilityOverlay.js b/application/basilisk/base/content/utilityOverlay.js
index f3ebf3b7eb..aeef5879c3 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/base/content/utilityOverlay.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/base/content/utilityOverlay.js
@@ -60,6 +60,16 @@ function openTopWin(url) {
   openUILinkIn(url, "current");
 }
 
+function getBoolPref(prefname, def)
+{
+  try {
+    return Services.prefs.getBoolPref(prefname);
+  }
+  catch(er) {
+    return def;
+  }
+}
+
 /* openUILink handles clicks on UI elements that cause URLs to load.
  *
  * As the third argument, you may pass an object with the same properties as
diff --git a/application/palemoon/base/content/utilityOverlay.js b/application/palemoon/base/content/utilityOverlay.js
index c2a8baeed5..05da436056 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/base/content/utilityOverlay.js
+++ b/application/palemoon/base/content/utilityOverlay.js
@@ -75,6 +75,16 @@ function openTopWin(url) {
   openUILinkIn(url, "current");
 }
 
+function getBoolPref(prefname, def)
+{
+  try {
+    return Services.prefs.getBoolPref(prefname);
+  }
+  catch(er) {
+    return def;
+  }
+}
+
 /* openUILink handles clicks on UI elements that cause URLs to load.
  *
  * As the third argument, you may pass an object with the same properties as