diff --git a/core/java/android/widget/SlidingDrawer.java b/core/java/android/widget/SlidingDrawer.java
index e0f1bb41ce892..92561edc1cd11 100644
--- a/core/java/android/widget/SlidingDrawer.java
+++ b/core/java/android/widget/SlidingDrawer.java
@@ -206,10 +206,15 @@ public class SlidingDrawer extends ViewGroup {
 
         int contentId = a.getResourceId(R.styleable.SlidingDrawer_content, 0);
         if (contentId == 0) {
-            throw new IllegalArgumentException("The handle attribute is required and must refer "
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("The content attribute is required and must refer "
                     + "to a valid child.");
         }
 
+        if (handleId == contentId) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("The content and handle attributes must refer "
+                    + "to different children.");
+        }
+
         mHandleId = handleId;
         mContentId = contentId;