diff --git a/js/hinter.js b/js/hinter.js
index 836a9a669..f35587f06 100644
--- a/js/hinter.js
+++ b/js/hinter.js
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ SimpleAutocomplete.prototype.init = function()
         t.style.display = 'none';
         t.style.position = 'absolute';
         t.style.zIndex = 1000;
-        document.body.appendChild(t);
+        document.body.insertBefore(t, document.body.childNodes[0]);
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/js/util.js b/js/util.js
index ab2c9e7a2..d7358ddff 100644
--- a/js/util.js
+++ b/js/util.js
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ window.eventTarget = function(ev)
  */
 window.addClass = function(obj, c)
 {
-    if (typeof(obj) == 'object' && (obj instanceof Array))
+    if (obj !== null && (obj instanceof Array)) // ie8 needs explicit check for null here O_o
     {
         for (var i = 0; i < obj.length; i++)
             addClass(obj[i], c);
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ window.addClass = function(obj, c)
 };
 window.removeClass = function(obj, c)
 {
-    if (typeof(obj) == 'object' && (obj instanceof Array))
+    if (obj !== null && (obj instanceof Array))
     {
         for (var i = 0; i < obj.length; i++)
             removeClass(obj[i], c);
diff --git a/template/en/default/index.html.tmpl b/template/en/default/index.html.tmpl
index acee8197b..03d3bf580 100644
--- a/template/en/default/index.html.tmpl
+++ b/template/en/default/index.html.tmpl
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@
 <!--
 function onLoadActions() {
   quicksearchHelpText('quicksearch_main', 'show');
-  if( window.external && window.external.AddSearchProvider ){
+  if( window.external && ( typeof( window.external.AddSearchProvider ) != 'undefined' &&
+    typeof( window.external.AddSearchProvider ) != 'unknown' ) ){
     removeClass('quicksearch_plugin', 'bz_default_hidden');
   }
   document.getElementById('quicksearch_top').focus();