diff --git a/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/browser.py b/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/browser.py
index 06b4484..9778cb3 100644
--- a/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/browser.py
+++ b/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/browser.py
@@ -198,6 +198,8 @@ class Browser(SetattrErrorsMixin):
         if self._contents is not None:
             return self._contents
         response = self.mech_browser.response()
+        if response is None:
+            return None
         old_location = response.tell()
         response.seek(0)
         self._contents = response.read()
diff --git a/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/tests.py b/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/tests.py
index 18f46b7..669a3cb 100644
--- a/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/tests.py
+++ b/trunk/src/zope/testbrowser/tests.py
@@ -304,6 +304,21 @@ You can pass a string to add_file:
 
     """
 
+def test_avoid_failing_badly_when_asking_content_on_new_instance(self):
+    """
+
+    When first instantiated, the browser has no contents. This seems
+    logical, so:
+
+    >>> browser = Browser()
+    >>> browser.contents
+
+    It was failing badly before bug
+    <http://bugs.launchpad.net/zope3/+bug/419119>
+
+    """
+
+
 
 def test_strip_linebreaks_from_textarea(self):
     """