diff --git a/katex.js b/katex.js
index 96a80c6..8df0100 100644
--- a/katex.js
+++ b/katex.js
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@ var parseTree = require("./parseTree");
 var utils = require("./utils");
 
 var process = function(toParse, baseNode) {
+    utils.clearNode(baseNode);
+
     var tree = parseTree(toParse);
     var node = buildTree(tree);
 
-    utils.clearNode(baseNode);
     baseNode.appendChild(node);
 };