diff --git a/lib/ace/lib/event_emitter.js b/lib/ace/lib/event_emitter.js
index 3b413280..17ac8e3f 100644
--- a/lib/ace/lib/event_emitter.js
+++ b/lib/ace/lib/event_emitter.js
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ EventEmitter._dispatchEvent = function(eventName, e) {
     if (!listeners.length && !defaultHandler)
         return;
 
-    e = ( e === Object( e ) ) ? e : {};
+    if (typeof e != "object" || !e)
+        e = {};
+
     if (!e.type)
         e.type = eventName;