diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/editor.py b/Lib/idlelib/editor.py
index a040d791bdeb528..915ce7c6295b08d 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/editor.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/editor.py
@@ -1118,7 +1118,13 @@ def _close(self):
 
     def last_mtime(self):
         file = self.io.filename
-        return os.path.getmtime(file) if file else 0
+        if not file:
+            return 0
+        try:
+            return os.path.getmtime(file)
+        except OSError:
+            # File gone or inaccessible: keep the last known mtime.
+            return self.mtime
 
     def focus_in_event(self, event):
         mtime = self.last_mtime()
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/idle_test/test_editor.py b/Lib/idlelib/idle_test/test_editor.py
index e28ee549f180aa0..b6110ad06eeef8a 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/idle_test/test_editor.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/idle_test/test_editor.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 "Test editor, coverage 53%."
 
 from idlelib import editor
+import os
+import tempfile
+import types
 import unittest
 from collections import namedtuple
 from test.support import requires
@@ -237,5 +240,25 @@ def test_rclick(self):
         pass
 
 
+class LastMtimeTest(unittest.TestCase):
+    # Exercise last_mtime as an unbound method on a stub; no GUI needed.
+
+    def test_deleted_file_does_not_raise(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as d:
+            p = os.path.join(d, 'gone.py')
+            open(p, 'w').close()
+            mtime = os.path.getmtime(p)
+            os.remove(p)
+            stub = types.SimpleNamespace(
+                io=types.SimpleNamespace(filename=p), mtime=mtime)
+            # Must not raise; returns the last known mtime.
+            self.assertEqual(Editor.last_mtime(stub), mtime)
+
+    def test_no_filename_returns_zero(self):
+        stub = types.SimpleNamespace(
+            io=types.SimpleNamespace(filename=None), mtime=123)
+        self.assertEqual(Editor.last_mtime(stub), 0)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main(verbosity=2)
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-07-10-19-41-00.gh-issue-153480.EdMt1x.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-07-10-19-41-00.gh-issue-153480.EdMt1x.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..0147c300b772644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-07-10-19-41-00.gh-issue-153480.EdMt1x.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+IDLE no longer crashes with a traceback when a file open in the editor is
+deleted or renamed by another program and the editor window is refocused.