diff --git a/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js b/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js
index ef70133a..8f169def 100644
--- a/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js
+++ b/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js
@@ -69,16 +69,16 @@ dom.importCssString(editorCss, "ace_editor");
 var VirtualRenderer = function(container, theme) {
     var _self = this;
 
-    this.container = container;
+    this.container = container || dom.createElement("div");
 
     // TODO: this breaks rendering in Cloud9 with multiple ace instances
-//    // Imports CSS once per DOM document ('ace_editor' serves as an identifier).
-//    dom.importCssString(editorCss, "ace_editor", container.ownerDocument);
+    // // Imports CSS once per DOM document ('ace_editor' serves as an identifier).
+    // dom.importCssString(editorCss, "ace_editor", container.ownerDocument);
 
     // in IE <= 9 the native cursor always shines through
     this.$keepTextAreaAtCursor = !useragent.isIE;
 
-    dom.addCssClass(container, "ace_editor");
+    dom.addCssClass(this.container, "ace_editor");
 
     this.setTheme(theme);
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ var VirtualRenderer = function(container, theme) {
 
     this.$animatedScroll = false;
 
-    this.scrollBar = new ScrollBar(container);
+    this.scrollBar = new ScrollBar(this.container);
     this.scrollBar.addEventListener("scroll", function(e) {
         if (!_self.$inScrollAnimation)
             _self.session.setScrollTop(e.data);