diff --git a/static/js/graphing.js b/static/js/graphing.js
index 9eeac1909..e5306c487 100644
--- a/static/js/graphing.js
+++ b/static/js/graphing.js
@@ -186,6 +186,11 @@ ImageHistoryTree.prototype.draw = function(container) {
   // Save the container.
   this.container_ = container;
   
+  if (!$('#' + container)[0]) {
+    this.container_ = null;
+    return;
+  }
+
   // Create the tree and all its components.
   var tree = d3.layout.tree()
     .separation(function() { return 2; });
@@ -193,20 +198,10 @@ ImageHistoryTree.prototype.draw = function(container) {
   var diagonal = d3.svg.diagonal()
     .projection(function(d) { return [d.x, d.y]; });
 
-  var rootSvg =  d3.select("#" + container).append("svg:svg")
+  var rootSvg = d3.select("#" + container).append("svg:svg")
     .attr("class", "image-tree");
 
-  if (!rootSvg) {
-    this.container_ = null;
-    return;
-  }
-
   var vis = rootSvg.append("svg:g");
-  if (!vis) {
-    this.container_ = null;
-    return;
-  }
-
   var formatComment = this.formatComment_;
   var formatTime = this.formatTime_;
   var formatCommand = this.formatCommand_;