diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index d2b418f82b..2e147eee43 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -407,12 +407,13 @@ input[readonly] {
         var detailsOpen = {};
 
         var renderError = function(message) {
-            var $output = $('#output').empty()
+            $('#output')
+                .empty()
+                .append($('<pre class="error"></pre>').text(message));
             var err = message.match(/^:([0-9]*):([0-9]*)/)
             if (err && err.length) {
                 var errLine = parseInt( err[1], 10 ) - 1;
                 var errCol = err[2] ? parseInt( err[2], 10 ) : 0;
-                $output.append($('<pre class="error"></pre>').text(message));
                 editor.getSession().setAnnotations([{
                     row: errLine,
                     column: errCol,