diff --git a/packages/blockly/core/menuitem.ts b/packages/blockly/core/menuitem.ts
index 9500e322c..c88e9c094 100644
--- a/packages/blockly/core/menuitem.ts
+++ b/packages/blockly/core/menuitem.ts
@@ -114,7 +114,12 @@ export class MenuItem {
   getAriaLabel(): string {
     // This fallback should only be hit by Context Menu items as all
     // FieldDropdown options should have an ARIA label.
-    return this.ariaLabel || String(this.content);
+    return (
+      this.ariaLabel ||
+      (typeof this.content === 'string'
+        ? this.content
+        : this.content.textContent)
+    );
   }
 
   /** Dispose of this menu item. */
diff --git a/packages/blockly/tests/mocha/menu_item_test.js b/packages/blockly/tests/mocha/menu_item_test.js
index 7690c0f18..fadb9f2c1 100644
--- a/packages/blockly/tests/mocha/menu_item_test.js
+++ b/packages/blockly/tests/mocha/menu_item_test.js
@@ -173,4 +173,14 @@ suite('Menu items', function () {
     this.menuItem.performAction(new Event('click'));
     assert.isTrue(called);
   });
+
+  test('return accurate ARIA labels for HTML elements', function () {
+    const div = document.createElement('div');
+    const nestedDiv = document.createElement('div');
+    nestedDiv.textContent = 'nested';
+    div.textContent = 'test';
+    div.appendChild(nestedDiv);
+    const testMenuItem = new Blockly.MenuItem(div);
+    assert.equal(testMenuItem.getAriaLabel(), 'testnested');
+  });
 });