diff --git a/admin_menu.inc b/admin_menu.inc
index 2eab789..210b5fc 100644
--- a/admin_menu.inc
+++ b/admin_menu.inc
@@ -236,8 +236,14 @@ function admin_menu_merge_tree(array &$tree, array $tree_dynamic, array $expand_
           foreach ($replacements as $placeholder => $value) {
             $new_expand_map[$placeholder] = array($value);
           }
-          admin_menu_merge_tree($item, $tree_dynamic, array($new_expand_map));
-          $tree[$key]['below'] += $item;
+
+          // When trying to render an item that is exactly the same as the tree
+          // we are getting into an infinite loop. So do not execute that.
+          $diff = array_diff_assoc($tree, $item);
+          if (!empty($diff)) {
+            admin_menu_merge_tree($item, $tree_dynamic, array($new_expand_map));
+            $tree[$key]['below'] += $item;
+          }
         }
       }
     }