diff --git a/spec/app/select-list-spec.coffee b/spec/app/select-list-spec.coffee
index a39c4a128..5702fe546 100644
--- a/spec/app/select-list-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/app/select-list-spec.coffee
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ describe "SelectList", ->
         expect(selectList.confirmed).toHaveBeenCalledWith(array[2])
 
     describe "when there is no item selected (because the list is empty)", ->
+      beforeEach ->
+        selectList.attachToDom()
+
       it "does not trigger the confirmed hook", ->
         miniEditor.insertText("i will never match anything")
         window.advanceClock(selectList.inputThrottle)
diff --git a/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee b/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee
index b525a8fe7..0bc25a3f0 100644
--- a/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee
+++ b/src/packages/autocomplete/spec/autocomplete-spec.coffee
@@ -288,6 +288,9 @@ describe "AutocompleteView", ->
       expect(editor.lineForBufferRow(10)).toBe matchToSelect.text()
 
   describe "when the mini-editor receives keyboard input", ->
+    beforeEach ->
+      editor.attachToDom()
+
     describe "when text is removed from the mini-editor", ->
       it "reloads the match list based on the mini-editor's text", ->
         editor.getBuffer().insert([10,0] ,"t")