<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> span {color: red} input[type=text][disabled]:disabled + span {color: green} input[type=submit]:disabled + span {color: red} input { display: none } </style> </head> <body onload='document.getElementById("one").setAttribute("disabled", "disabled"); document.getElementById("one").setAttribute("type", "text");'> <input type="submit" id="one"/> <span>Should be no red </span> </body> </html>