diff --git a/lib/ace/mouse/dragdrop_handler.js b/lib/ace/mouse/dragdrop_handler.js
index 9da78933..887a6701 100644
--- a/lib/ace/mouse/dragdrop_handler.js
+++ b/lib/ace/mouse/dragdrop_handler.js
@@ -43,15 +43,11 @@ function DragdropHandler(mouseHandler) {
 
     var editor = mouseHandler.editor;
 
-    // Safari accepts either image or element (but it must present in the DOM)
-    var proxy = dom.createElement("img");
+    var blankImage = dom.createElement("img");
     // Safari crashes without image data
-    proxy.src = "data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==";
-
-    if (useragent.isOpera) {
-        proxy.style.cssText = "width:1px;height:1px;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483647;opacity:0;visibility:hidden";
-        editor.container.appendChild(proxy);
-    }
+    blankImage.src = "data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==";
+    if (useragent.isOpera)
+        blankImage.style.cssText = "width:1px;height:1px;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483647;opacity:0;";
 
     var exports = ["dragWait", "dragWaitEnd", "startDrag", "dragReadyEnd", "onMouseDrag"];
 
@@ -80,17 +76,19 @@ function DragdropHandler(mouseHandler) {
             }, 0);
             return e.preventDefault();
         }
-        if (useragent.isOpera) {
-            proxy.style.visibility = "visible";
-            setTimeout(function(){
-                proxy.style.visibility = "hidden";
-            }, 0);
-        }
         range = editor.getSelectionRange();
 
         var dataTransfer = e.dataTransfer;
         dataTransfer.effectAllowed = editor.getReadOnly() ? "copy" : "copyMove";
-        dataTransfer.setDragImage && dataTransfer.setDragImage(proxy, 0, 0);
+        if (useragent.isOpera) {
+            editor.container.appendChild(blankImage);
+            // force layout
+            blankImage._top = blankImage.offsetTop;
+        }
+        dataTransfer.setDragImage && dataTransfer.setDragImage(blankImage, 0, 0);
+        if (useragent.isOpera) {
+            editor.container.removeChild(blankImage);
+        }
         // clear Opera garbage
         dataTransfer.clearData();
         dataTransfer.setData("Text", editor.session.getTextRange());