diff --git a/python/pyspark/sql.py b/python/pyspark/sql.py
index fdd8034c98f7..8fdb3591cf22 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/sql.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/sql.py
@@ -2136,9 +2136,9 @@ def __getitem__(self, item):
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
         """ Return the column by given name """
-        if isinstance(name, basestring):
-            return Column(self._jdf.apply(name))
-        raise AttributeError
+        if name.startswith("__"):
+            raise AttributeError(name)
+        return Column(self._jdf.apply(name))
 
     def alias(self, name):
         """ Alias the current DataFrame """
diff --git a/python/pyspark/tests.py b/python/pyspark/tests.py
index 081a77fbb0be..bec1961f2639 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/tests.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/tests.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 from fileinput import input
 from glob import glob
 import os
+import pydoc
 import re
 import shutil
 import subprocess
@@ -1032,6 +1033,15 @@ def test_aggregator(self):
         from pyspark.sql import Aggregator as Agg
         # self.assertEqual((0, '100'), tuple(g.agg(Agg.first(df.key), Agg.last(df.value)).first()))
 
+    def test_help_command(self):
+        # Regression test for SPARK-5464
+        rdd = self.sc.parallelize(['{"foo":"bar"}', '{"foo":"baz"}'])
+        df = self.sqlCtx.jsonRDD(rdd)
+        # render_doc() reproduces the help() exception without printing output
+        pydoc.render_doc(df)
+        pydoc.render_doc(df.foo)
+        pydoc.render_doc(df.take(1))
+
 
 class InputFormatTests(ReusedPySparkTestCase):