diff --git a/src/platforms/web/runtime/modules/dom-props.js b/src/platforms/web/runtime/modules/dom-props.js
index d01b1e82a8a..f2502ac98bb 100644
--- a/src/platforms/web/runtime/modules/dom-props.js
+++ b/src/platforms/web/runtime/modules/dom-props.js
@@ -63,7 +63,11 @@ function shouldUpdateValue (
 function isDirty (elm: acceptValueElm, checkVal: string): boolean {
   // return true when textbox (.number and .trim) loses focus and its value is
   // not equal to the updated value
-  return document.activeElement !== elm && elm.value !== checkVal
+  let notInFocus = true
+  // #6157
+  // work around IE bug when accessing document.activeElement in an iframe
+  try { notInFocus = document.activeElement !== elm } catch (e) {}
+  return notInFocus && elm.value !== checkVal
 }
 
 function isInputChanged (elm: any, newVal: string): boolean {