diff --git a/build/guppy.min.js b/build/guppy.min.js
index 1895e78b..eb94ce2c 100644
--- a/build/guppy.min.js
+++ b/build/guppy.min.js
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ Guppy.prototype.render_node = function(t){
 }
 
 Guppy.prototype.render = function(updated){
-    if(!this.editor_active && GuppyUtils.is_blank(this.backend.doc.root().firstChild)){
+    if(!this.editor_active && this.backend.doc.is_blank()){
 	katex.render(this.empty_content,this.editor);
 	return;
     }
@@ -2769,6 +2769,13 @@ GuppyDoc.prototype.ensure_text_nodes = function(){
     }
 }
 
+GuppyDoc.prototype.is_blank = function(){
+    if(this.base.getElementsByTagName("f").length > 0) return false;
+    var l = this.base.getElementsByTagName("e");
+    if(l.length == 1 && (!(l[0].firstChild) || l[0].firstChild.textContent == "")) return true;
+    return false;
+}
+
 GuppyDoc.prototype.root = function(){
     return this.base.documentElement;
 }
diff --git a/build/guppy_backend.min.js b/build/guppy_backend.min.js
index 454b1ed7..c7a408d4 100644
--- a/build/guppy_backend.min.js
+++ b/build/guppy_backend.min.js
@@ -2256,6 +2256,13 @@ GuppyDoc.prototype.ensure_text_nodes = function(){
     }
 }
 
+GuppyDoc.prototype.is_blank = function(){
+    if(this.base.getElementsByTagName("f").length > 0) return false;
+    var l = this.base.getElementsByTagName("e");
+    if(l.length == 1 && (!(l[0].firstChild) || l[0].firstChild.textContent == "")) return true;
+    return false;
+}
+
 GuppyDoc.prototype.root = function(){
     return this.base.documentElement;
 }
diff --git a/build/guppy_doc.min.js b/build/guppy_doc.min.js
index aa9dbfa6..f2198286 100644
--- a/build/guppy_doc.min.js
+++ b/build/guppy_doc.min.js
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@ GuppyDoc.prototype.ensure_text_nodes = function(){
     }
 }
 
+GuppyDoc.prototype.is_blank = function(){
+    if(this.base.getElementsByTagName("f").length > 0) return false;
+    var l = this.base.getElementsByTagName("e");
+    if(l.length == 1 && (!(l[0].firstChild) || l[0].firstChild.textContent == "")) return true;
+    return false;
+}
+
 GuppyDoc.prototype.root = function(){
     return this.base.documentElement;
 }
diff --git a/build/guppy_render.min.js b/build/guppy_render.min.js
index babc33df..558bdd0f 100644
--- a/build/guppy_render.min.js
+++ b/build/guppy_render.min.js
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ GuppyDoc.prototype.ensure_text_nodes = function(){
     }
 }
 
+GuppyDoc.prototype.is_blank = function(){
+    if(this.base.getElementsByTagName("f").length > 0) return false;
+    var l = this.base.getElementsByTagName("e");
+    if(l.length == 1 && (!(l[0].firstChild) || l[0].firstChild.textContent == "")) return true;
+    return false;
+}
+
 GuppyDoc.prototype.root = function(){
     return this.base.documentElement;
 }
diff --git a/src/guppy.js b/src/guppy.js
index 64721477..579414d2 100644
--- a/src/guppy.js
+++ b/src/guppy.js
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ Guppy.prototype.render_node = function(t){
 }
 
 Guppy.prototype.render = function(updated){
-    if(!this.editor_active && GuppyUtils.is_blank(this.backend.doc.root().firstChild)){
+    if(!this.editor_active && this.backend.doc.is_blank()){
 	katex.render(this.empty_content,this.editor);
 	return;
     }
diff --git a/src/guppy_doc.js b/src/guppy_doc.js
index 2056f4ba..f6b20bb2 100644
--- a/src/guppy_doc.js
+++ b/src/guppy_doc.js
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ GuppyDoc.prototype.ensure_text_nodes = function(){
     }
 }
 
+GuppyDoc.prototype.is_blank = function(){
+    if(this.base.getElementsByTagName("f").length > 0) return false;
+    var l = this.base.getElementsByTagName("e");
+    if(l.length == 1 && (!(l[0].firstChild) || l[0].firstChild.textContent == "")) return true;
+    return false;
+}
+
 GuppyDoc.prototype.root = function(){
     return this.base.documentElement;
 }