diff --git a/IPython/html/static/services/kernels/comm.js b/IPython/html/static/services/kernels/comm.js
index 4af2ba6..cffd66f 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/services/kernels/comm.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/services/kernels/comm.js
@@ -106,9 +106,9 @@ define([
             console.error('Comm promise not found for comm id ' + content.comm_id);
             return;
         }
-
+        var that = this;
         this.comms[content.comm_id] = this.comms[content.comm_id].then(function(comm) {
-            this.unregister_comm(comm);
+            that.unregister_comm(comm);
             try {
                 comm.handle_close(msg);
             } catch (e) {