diff --git a/src/text-editor-component.js b/src/text-editor-component.js
index 17562e47f..e35fb9733 100644
--- a/src/text-editor-component.js
+++ b/src/text-editor-component.js
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class TextEditorComponent {
         scrollHeight = this.getScrollHeight()
       }
 
-      return $.div(
+      this.gutterContainerVnode = $.div(
         {
           ref: 'gutterContainer',
           className: 'gutter-container',