diff --git a/unpacked/extensions/MathEvents.js b/unpacked/extensions/MathEvents.js
index 0b16a229a..39ce0f565 100644
--- a/unpacked/extensions/MathEvents.js
+++ b/unpacked/extensions/MathEvents.js
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
           annotationList = MathJax.Hub.Config.semanticsAnnotations;
           for (var i = 0, m = annotationItems.length; i < m; i++) {
             var name = annotationItems[i].name[1]
-            if (jax.root.getAnnotation(name) !== null) {
+            if (jax.root && jax.root.getAnnotation(name) !== null) {
               annotations.disabled = false;
               annotationItems[i].hidden = false;
             } else {