diff --git a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
index 7e5b0ebe..0f918dcf 100644
--- a/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
+++ b/lib/ace/keyboard/textinput.js
@@ -143,8 +143,9 @@ var TextInput = function(parentNode, host) {
         }
     }
     if (useragent.isOldIE) {
+        var inPropertyChange = false;
         var onPropertyChange = function(e){
-            if (propertyChangeCounter)
+            if (inPropertyChange)
                 return;
             var data = text.value;
             if (inCompostion || !data || data == PLACEHOLDER)
@@ -154,12 +155,12 @@ var TextInput = function(parentNode, host) {
                 return syncProperty.schedule();
 
             sendText(data);
-            propertyChangeCounter++;
+            // ie8 calls propertychange handlers synchronously!
+            inPropertyChange = true;
             resetValue();
-            propertyChangeCounter--;
+            inPropertyChange = false;
         };
         var syncProperty = lang.delayedCall(onPropertyChange);
-        var propertyChangeCounter = 0;
         event.addListener(text, "propertychange", onPropertyChange);
 
         var keytable = { 13:1, 27:1 };