diff --git a/special_menu_items.module b/special_menu_items.module
index db4a0cb..7fb003f 100644
--- a/special_menu_items.module
+++ b/special_menu_items.module
@@ -74,7 +74,9 @@ function special_menu_items_link(array $variables) {
         $tag = variable_get('special_menu_items_nolink_tag', '<span>');
         $title = $variables['options']['html'] ? $variables['text'] : check_plain($variables['text']);
         $variables['options']['attributes']['class'][] = 'nolink';
-        $variables['options']['attributes']['tabindex'][] = '0';
+        if (empty($variables['options']['attributes']['tabindex'])) {
+          $variables['options']['attributes']['tabindex'] = '0';
+        }
         break;
 
       case '<separator>':