Whitney Houston narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction when she took the stage on the British reality talent competition The X Factor Sunday night, wearing a floor-length silver dress that threatened to get caught on the heels of her stilettos.

With a hem several inches too long, the comeback diva had to keep hoisting the frock up to avoid falling on her face as she belted out the lyrics to “Million Dollar Bill.” Whitney even had to deal with the garb’s back fastening coming apart.

Despite the wardrobe malfunction, Whitney championed through her performance, telling host Dermot O’Leary: “I sang myself out of my clothes…”