diff --git a/hledger-web/.hledger/web/static/hledger.js b/hledger-web/.hledger/web/static/hledger.js
index a05c2c937..2ac78b1de 100644
--- a/hledger-web/.hledger/web/static/hledger.js
+++ b/hledger-web/.hledger/web/static/hledger.js
@@ -112,18 +112,24 @@ function editformToggle(ev) {
  return false;
 }
 
-function editformJournalSelect(ev) {
-  // http://www.quirksmode.org/js/events_properties.html
- if (!ev) var ev = window.event;
- if (ev.target) targ = ev.target;
- else if (ev.srcElement) targ = ev.srcElement;
- if (targ.nodeType == 3) targ = targ.parentNode;
+// Get the current event's target in a robust way.
+// http://www.quirksmode.org/js/events_properties.html
+function getTarget(ev) {
+  var targ;
+  if (!ev) var ev = window.event;
+  if (ev.target) targ = ev.target;
+  else if (ev.srcElement) targ = ev.srcElement;
+  if (targ.nodeType == 3) targ = targ.parentNode;
+  return targ;
+}
 
+function editformJournalSelect(ev) {
  var textareas = $('textarea', $('form#editform'));
  for (i=0; i<textareas.length; i++) {
    textareas[i].style.display = 'none';
    textareas[i].disabled = true;
  }
+ var targ = getTarget(ev);
  if (targ.value) {
    var journalid = targ.value+'_textarea';
    var textarea = document.getElementById(journalid);