diff --git a/Lib/inspect.py b/Lib/inspect.py
index 521d2a6..ffbe66f 100644
--- a/Lib/inspect.py
+++ b/Lib/inspect.py
@@ -100,11 +100,11 @@
     tests return false from the ismethoddescriptor() test, simply because
     the other tests promise more -- you can, e.g., count on having the
     __func__ attribute (etc) when an object passes ismethod()."""
-    return (hasattr(object, "__get__")
-            and not hasattr(object, "__set__") # else it's a data descriptor
-            and not ismethod(object)           # mutual exclusion
-            and not isfunction(object)
-            and not isclass(object))
+    if isclass(object) or ismethod(object) or isfunction(object):
+        # mutual exclusion
+        return False
+    tp = type(object)
+    return hasattr(tp, "__get__") and not hasattr(tp, "__set__")
 
 def isdatadescriptor(object):
     """Return true if the object is a data descriptor.
@@ -114,7 +114,11 @@
     Typically, data descriptors will also have __name__ and __doc__ attributes
     (properties, getsets, and members have both of these attributes), but this
     is not guaranteed."""
-    return (hasattr(object, "__set__") and hasattr(object, "__get__"))
+    if isclass(object) or ismethod(object) or isfunction(object):
+        # mutual exclusion
+        return False
+    tp = type(object)
+    return hasattr(tp, "__set__") and hasattr(tp, "__get__")
 
 if hasattr(types, 'MemberDescriptorType'):
     # CPython and equivalent
@@ -254,12 +258,23 @@
 def getmembers(object, predicate=None):
     """Return all members of an object as (name, value) pairs sorted by name.
     Optionally, only return members that satisfy a given predicate."""
+    if isclass(object):
+        mro = (object,) + getmro(object)
+    else:
+        mro = ()
     results = []
     for key in dir(object):
-        try:
-            value = getattr(object, key)
-        except AttributeError:
-            continue
+        # First try to get the value via __dict__. Some descriptors don't
+        # like calling their __get__ (see bug #1785).
+        for base in mro:
+            if key in base.__dict__:
+                value = base.__dict__[key]
+                break
+        else:
+            try:
+                value = getattr(object, key)
+            except AttributeError:
+                continue
         if not predicate or predicate(value):
             results.append((key, value))
     results.sort()
@@ -295,30 +310,21 @@
     names = dir(cls)
     result = []
     for name in names:
-        # Get the object associated with the name.
+        # Get the object associated with the name, and where it was defined.
         # Getting an obj from the __dict__ sometimes reveals more than
         # using getattr.  Static and class methods are dramatic examples.
-        if name in cls.__dict__:
-            obj = cls.__dict__[name]
+        # Furthermore, some objects may raise an Exception when fetched with
+        # getattr(). This is the case with some descriptors (bug #1785).
+        # Thus, we only use getattr() as a last resort.
+        homecls = None
+        for base in (cls,) + mro:
+            if name in base.__dict__:
+                obj = base.__dict__[name]
+                homecls = base
+                break
         else:
             obj = getattr(cls, name)
-
-        # Figure out where it was defined.
-        homecls = getattr(obj, "__objclass__", None)
-        if homecls is None:
-            # search the dicts.
-            for base in mro:
-                if name in base.__dict__:
-                    homecls = base
-                    break
-
-        # Get the object again, in order to get it from the defining
-        # __dict__ instead of via getattr (if possible).
-        if homecls is not None and name in homecls.__dict__:
-            obj = homecls.__dict__[name]
-
-        # Also get the object via getattr.
-        obj_via_getattr = getattr(cls, name)
+            homecls = getattr(obj, "__objclass__", homecls)
 
         # Classify the object.
         if isinstance(obj, staticmethod):
@@ -327,11 +333,18 @@
             kind = "class method"
         elif isinstance(obj, property):
             kind = "property"
-        elif (isfunction(obj_via_getattr) or
-              ismethoddescriptor(obj_via_getattr)):
+        elif ismethoddescriptor(obj):
             kind = "method"
-        else:
+        elif isdatadescriptor(obj):
             kind = "data"
+        else:
+            obj_via_getattr = getattr(cls, name)
+            if (isfunction(obj_via_getattr) or
+                ismethoddescriptor(obj_via_getattr)):
+                kind = "method"
+            else:
+                kind = "data"
+            obj = obj_via_getattr
 
         result.append(Attribute(name, kind, homecls, obj))
 
diff --git a/Lib/pydoc.py b/Lib/pydoc.py
index d0c6f62..f45d461 100755
--- a/Lib/pydoc.py
+++ b/Lib/pydoc.py
@@ -754,8 +754,15 @@
                 hr.maybe()
                 push(msg)
                 for name, kind, homecls, value in ok:
-                    push(self.document(getattr(object, name), name, mod,
-                                       funcs, classes, mdict, object))
+                    try:
+                        value = getattr(object, name)
+                    except Exception:
+                        # Some descriptors may meet a failure in their __get__.
+                        # (bug #1785)
+                        push(self._docdescriptor(name, value, mod))
+                    else:
+                        push(self.document(value, name, mod,
+                                        funcs, classes, mdict, object))
                     push('\n')
             return attrs
 
@@ -796,7 +803,12 @@
         mdict = {}
         for key, kind, homecls, value in attrs:
             mdict[key] = anchor = '#' + name + '-' + key
-            value = getattr(object, key)
+            try:
+                value = getattr(object, name)
+            except Exception:
+                # Some descriptors may meet a failure in their __get__.
+                # (bug #1785)
+                pass
             try:
                 # The value may not be hashable (e.g., a data attr with
                 # a dict or list value).
@@ -1180,8 +1192,15 @@
                 hr.maybe()
                 push(msg)
                 for name, kind, homecls, value in ok:
-                    push(self.document(getattr(object, name),
-                                       name, mod, object))
+                    try:
+                        value = getattr(object, name)
+                    except Exception:
+                        # Some descriptors may meet a failure in their __get__.
+                        # (bug #1785)
+                        push(self._docdescriptor(name, value, mod))
+                    else:
+                        push(self.document(value,
+                                        name, mod, object))
             return attrs
 
         def spilldescriptors(msg, attrs, predicate):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_inspect.py b/Lib/test/test_inspect.py
index abbdc9f..56f9929 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_inspect.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_inspect.py
@@ -425,10 +425,37 @@
     def test_class(self):
         self.assertSourceEqual(self.fodderModule.X, 1, 2)
 
+
+class _BrokenDataDescriptor(object):
+    """
+    A broken data descriptor. See bug #1785.
+    """
+    def __get__(*args):
+        raise AssertionError("should not __get__ data descriptors")
+
+    def __set__(*args):
+        raise RuntimeError
+
+    def __getattr__(*args):
+        raise AssertionError("should not __getattr__ data descriptors")
+
+
+class _BrokenMethodDescriptor(object):
+    """
+    A broken method descriptor. See bug #1785.
+    """
+    def __get__(*args):
+        raise AssertionError("should not __get__ method descriptors")
+
+    def __getattr__(*args):
+        raise AssertionError("should not __getattr__ method descriptors")
+
+
 # Helper for testing classify_class_attrs.
 def attrs_wo_objs(cls):
     return [t[:3] for t in inspect.classify_class_attrs(cls)]
 
+
 class TestClassesAndFunctions(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_newstyle_mro(self):
         # The same w/ new-class MRO.
@@ -525,6 +552,9 @@
 
             datablob = '1'
 
+            dd = _BrokenDataDescriptor()
+            md = _BrokenMethodDescriptor()
+
         attrs = attrs_wo_objs(A)
         self.assertIn(('s', 'static method', A), attrs, 'missing static method')
         self.assertIn(('c', 'class method', A), attrs, 'missing class method')
@@ -533,6 +563,8 @@
                       'missing plain method: %r' % attrs)
         self.assertIn(('m1', 'method', A), attrs, 'missing plain method')
         self.assertIn(('datablob', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data')
+        self.assertIn(('md', 'method', A), attrs, 'missing method descriptor')
+        self.assertIn(('dd', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data descriptor')
 
         class B(A):
 
@@ -545,6 +577,8 @@
         self.assertIn(('m', 'method', B), attrs, 'missing plain method')
         self.assertIn(('m1', 'method', A), attrs, 'missing plain method')
         self.assertIn(('datablob', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data')
+        self.assertIn(('md', 'method', A), attrs, 'missing method descriptor')
+        self.assertIn(('dd', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data descriptor')
 
 
         class C(A):
@@ -559,6 +593,8 @@
         self.assertIn(('m', 'method', C), attrs, 'missing plain method')
         self.assertIn(('m1', 'method', A), attrs, 'missing plain method')
         self.assertIn(('datablob', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data')
+        self.assertIn(('md', 'method', A), attrs, 'missing method descriptor')
+        self.assertIn(('dd', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data descriptor')
 
         class D(B, C):
 
@@ -571,6 +607,49 @@
         self.assertIn(('m', 'method', B), attrs, 'missing plain method')
         self.assertIn(('m1', 'method', D), attrs, 'missing plain method')
         self.assertIn(('datablob', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data')
+        self.assertIn(('md', 'method', A), attrs, 'missing method descriptor')
+        self.assertIn(('dd', 'data', A), attrs, 'missing data descriptor')
+
+    def test_classify_builtin_types(self):
+        # Simple sanity check that all built-in types can have their
+        # attributes classified.
+        for name in dir(__builtins__):
+            builtin = getattr(__builtins__, name)
+            if isinstance(builtin, type):
+                inspect.classify_class_attrs(builtin)
+
+    def test_getmembers_descriptors(self):
+        class A(object):
+            dd = _BrokenDataDescriptor()
+            md = _BrokenMethodDescriptor()
+
+        def pred_wrapper(pred):
+            # A quick'n'dirty way to discard standard attributes of new-style
+            # classes.
+            class Empty(object):
+                pass
+            def wrapped(x):
+                if '__name__' in dir(x) and hasattr(Empty, x.__name__):
+                    return False
+                return pred(x)
+            return wrapped
+
+        ismethoddescriptor = pred_wrapper(inspect.ismethoddescriptor)
+        isdatadescriptor = pred_wrapper(inspect.isdatadescriptor)
+
+        self.assertEqual(inspect.getmembers(A, ismethoddescriptor),
+            [('md', A.__dict__['md'])])
+        self.assertEqual(inspect.getmembers(A, isdatadescriptor),
+            [('dd', A.__dict__['dd'])])
+
+        class B(A):
+            pass
+
+        self.assertEqual(inspect.getmembers(B, ismethoddescriptor),
+            [('md', A.__dict__['md'])])
+        self.assertEqual(inspect.getmembers(B, isdatadescriptor),
+            [('dd', A.__dict__['dd'])])
+
 
 class TestGetcallargsFunctions(unittest.TestCase):
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 956146f..1ad91c0 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #1785: Fix inspect and pydoc with misbehaving descriptors.
+
 - Issue #11813: Fix inspect.getattr_static for modules. Patch by Andreas
   Stührk.