diff --git a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
index 183260c9..3ad20179 100644
--- a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
+++ b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ var TextInput = function(parentNode, host) {
     var isSelectionEmpty = true;
 
     // FOCUS
-    var isFocused = document.activeElement === text;
+    // ie9 throws error if document.activeElement is accessed too soon
+    try { var isFocused = document.activeElement === text; } catch(e) {}
+    
     event.addListener(text, "blur", function() {
         host.onBlur();
         isFocused = false;