diff --git a/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js b/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js
index 363f3cd8..996315e8 100644
--- a/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js
+++ b/lib/ace/virtual_renderer.js
@@ -451,6 +451,10 @@ var VirtualRenderer = function(container, theme) {
 
     this.$highlightGutterLine = false;
     this.setHighlightGutterLine = function(shouldHighlight) {
+        // adding this element to gutter causes strange behavior on ie
+        if (useragent.isIE)
+            return;
+
         if (this.$highlightGutterLine == shouldHighlight)
             return;
         this.$highlightGutterLine = shouldHighlight;