diff --git a/wp-includes/widgets.php b/wp-includes/widgets.php
index 4c6d4f448..7ec8fd72a 100644
--- a/wp-includes/widgets.php
+++ b/wp-includes/widgets.php
@@ -995,6 +995,9 @@ function wp_get_sidebars_widgets($deprecated = true) {
 	if ( $deprecated !== true )
 		_deprecated_argument( __FUNCTION__, '2.8.1' );
 
+	if ( ! current_theme_supports( 'widgets' ) )
+		return array();
+
 	global $wp_registered_widgets, $wp_registered_sidebars, $_wp_sidebars_widgets;
 
 	// If loading from front page, consult $_wp_sidebars_widgets rather than options