diff --git a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/codecell.js b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/codecell.js
index 5a5af40..2fb097e 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/codecell.js
+++ b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/codecell.js
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ var IPython = (function (IPython) {
      *      @param [options.cm_config] {object} config to pass to CodeMirror
      */
     var CodeCell = function (kernel, options) {
+        var options = options || {}
         this.kernel = kernel || null;
         this.code_mirror = null;
         this.input_prompt_number = null;