diff --git a/docs/src/api/class-request.md b/docs/src/api/class-request.md
index 15b566bd08..fcf231f754 100644
--- a/docs/src/api/class-request.md
+++ b/docs/src/api/class-request.md
@@ -68,6 +68,41 @@ page.RequestFailed += (_, request) =>
 
 Returns the [Frame] that initiated this request.
 
+**Usage**
+
+```js
+const frameUrl = request.frame().url();
+```
+
+```java
+String frameUrl = request.frame().url();
+```
+
+```py
+frame_url = request.frame.url
+```
+
+```csharp
+var frameUrl = request.Frame.Url;
+```
+
+**Details**
+
+Note that in some cases the frame is not available, and this method will throw.
+* When request originates in the Service Worker. You can use `request.serviceWorker()` to check that.
+* When navigation request is issued before the corresponding frame is created. You can use [`method: Request.isNavigationRequest`] to check that.
+
+Here is an example that handles all the cases:
+
+```js
+if (request.serviceWorker())
+  console.log(`request ${request.url()} from a service worker`);
+else if (request.isNavigationRequest())
+  console.log(`request ${request.url()} is a navigation request`);
+else
+  console.log(`request ${request.url()} from a frame ${request.frame().url()}`);
+```
+
 ## method: Request.headers
 * since: v1.8
 - returns: <[Object]<[string], [string]>>
@@ -103,6 +138,9 @@ Name of the header.
 
 Whether this request is driving frame's navigation.
 
+Some navigation requests are issued before the corresponding frame is created, and therefore
+do not have [`method: Request.frame`] available.
+
 ## method: Request.method
 * since: v1.8
 - returns: <[string]>
@@ -252,12 +290,14 @@ Returns the matching [Response] object, or `null` if the response was not receiv
 * langs: js
 - returns: <[null]|[Worker]>
 
-:::note
-This field is Chromium only. It's safe to call when using other browsers, but it will always be `null`.
-:::
-
 The Service [Worker] that is performing the request.
 
+**Details**
+
+This method is Chromium only. It's safe to call when using other browsers, but it will always be `null`.
+
+Requests originated in a Service Worker do not have a [`method: Request.frame`] available.
+
 ## async method: Request.sizes
 * since: v1.15
 - returns: <[Object]>
diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/client/network.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/client/network.ts
index 83e87f4cb3..681777166b 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-core/src/client/network.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-core/src/client/network.ts
@@ -198,7 +198,15 @@ export class Request extends ChannelOwner<channels.RequestChannel> implements ap
       assert(this.serviceWorker());
       throw new Error('Service Worker requests do not have an associated frame.');
     }
-    return Frame.from(this._initializer.frame);
+    const frame = Frame.from(this._initializer.frame);
+    if (!frame._page) {
+      throw new Error([
+        'Frame for this navigation request is not available, because the request',
+        'was issued before the frame is created. You can check whether the request',
+        'is a navigation request by calling isNavigationRequest() method.',
+      ].join('\n'));
+    }
+    return frame;
   }
 
   serviceWorker(): Worker | null {
@@ -267,7 +275,8 @@ export class Request extends ChannelOwner<channels.RequestChannel> implements ap
   }
 
   _targetClosedScope(): LongStandingScope {
-    return this.serviceWorker()?._closedScope || this.frame()._page?._closedOrCrashedScope || new LongStandingScope();
+    const frame = Frame.fromNullable(this._initializer.frame);
+    return this.serviceWorker()?._closedScope || frame?._page?._closedOrCrashedScope || new LongStandingScope();
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/types/types.d.ts b/packages/playwright-core/types/types.d.ts
index 67d5e562d3..3efc2b322b 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-core/types/types.d.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-core/types/types.d.ts
@@ -18050,6 +18050,32 @@ export interface Request {
 
   /**
    * Returns the {@link Frame} that initiated this request.
+   *
+   * **Usage**
+   *
+   * ```js
+   * const frameUrl = request.frame().url();
+   * ```
+   *
+   * **Details**
+   *
+   * Note that in some cases the frame is not available, and this method will throw.
+   * - When request originates in the Service Worker. You can use `request.serviceWorker()` to check that.
+   * - When navigation request is issued before the corresponding frame is created. You can use
+   *   [request.isNavigationRequest()](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-request#request-is-navigation-request) to
+   *   check that.
+   *
+   * Here is an example that handles all the cases:
+   *
+   * ```js
+   * if (request.serviceWorker())
+   *   console.log(`request ${request.url()} from a service worker`);
+   * else if (request.isNavigationRequest())
+   *   console.log(`request ${request.url()} is a navigation request`);
+   * else
+   *   console.log(`request ${request.url()} from a frame ${request.frame().url()}`);
+   * ```
+   *
    */
   frame(): Frame;
 
@@ -18086,6 +18112,9 @@ export interface Request {
 
   /**
    * Whether this request is driving frame's navigation.
+   *
+   * Some navigation requests are issued before the corresponding frame is created, and therefore do not have
+   * [request.frame()](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-request#request-frame) available.
    */
   isNavigationRequest(): boolean;
 
@@ -18166,9 +18195,14 @@ export interface Request {
   response(): Promise<null|Response>;
 
   /**
-   * **NOTE** This field is Chromium only. It's safe to call when using other browsers, but it will always be `null`.
-   *
    * The Service {@link Worker} that is performing the request.
+   *
+   * **Details**
+   *
+   * This method is Chromium only. It's safe to call when using other browsers, but it will always be `null`.
+   *
+   * Requests originated in a Service Worker do not have a
+   * [request.frame()](https://playwright.dev/docs/api/class-request#request-frame) available.
    */
   serviceWorker(): null|Worker;
 
diff --git a/tests/page/page-network-request.spec.ts b/tests/page/page-network-request.spec.ts
index e9bcec5ded..0636370923 100644
--- a/tests/page/page-network-request.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/page/page-network-request.spec.ts
@@ -425,3 +425,26 @@ it('should report all cookies in one header', async ({ page, server, isElectron,
   const cookie = (await response.request().allHeaders())['cookie'];
   expect(cookie).toBe('myCookie=myValue; myOtherCookie=myOtherValue');
 });
+
+it('should not allow to access frame on popup main request', async ({ page, server }) => {
+  await page.setContent(`<a target=_blank href="${server.EMPTY_PAGE}">click me</a>`);
+  const requestPromise = page.context().waitForEvent('request');
+  const popupPromise = page.context().waitForEvent('page');
+  const clicked = page.getByText('click me').click();
+  const request = await requestPromise;
+
+  expect(request.isNavigationRequest()).toBe(true);
+
+  let error;
+  try {
+    request.frame();
+  } catch (e) {
+    error = e;
+  }
+  expect(error.message).toContain('Frame for this navigation request is not available');
+
+  const response = await request.response();
+  await response.finished();
+  await popupPromise;
+  await clicked;
+});