diff --git a/emcc.c b/emcc.c
index 3f009ef..453637b 100644
--- a/emcc.c
+++ b/emcc.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ extern void js_canvas_free_blitter(int id);
 extern void js_canvas_copy_to_blitter(int id, int x, int y, int w, int h);
 extern void js_canvas_copy_from_blitter(int id, int x, int y, int w, int h);
 extern void js_canvas_make_statusbar(void);
+extern void js_canvas_remove_statusbar(void);
 extern void js_canvas_set_statusbar(const char *text);
 extern void js_canvas_set_size(int w, int h);
 extern double js_get_device_pixel_ratio();
@@ -958,6 +959,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
      */
     if (midend_wants_statusbar(me))
         js_canvas_make_statusbar();
+    else
+        js_canvas_remove_statusbar();
 
     /*
      * Set up the game-type dropdown with presets and/or the Custom
diff --git a/emcclib.js b/emcclib.js
index dad1475..d2316f1 100644
--- a/emcclib.js
+++ b/emcclib.js
@@ -518,11 +518,24 @@ mergeInto(LibraryManager.library, {
      * back end turns out to want one.
      */
     js_canvas_make_statusbar: function() {
-        var statusholder = document.getElementById("statusbarholder");
-        statusbar = document.createElement("div");
-        statusbar.id = "statusbar";
-        statusbar.appendChild(document.createTextNode(" "));
-        statusholder.appendChild(statusbar);
+        if (statusbar === null) {
+            var statusholder = document.getElementById("statusbarholder");
+            statusbar = document.createElement("div");
+            statusbar.id = "statusbar";
+            statusbar.appendChild(document.createTextNode(" "));
+            statusholder.appendChild(statusbar);
+        }
+    },
+
+    /*
+     * void js_canvas_remove_statusbar(void);
+     *
+     * Cause a status bar not to exist. Called at setup time if the
+     * puzzle back end turns out not to want one.
+     */
+    js_canvas_remove_statusbar: function() {
+        if (statusbar !== null)
+            statusbar.parentNode.removeChild(statusbar);
     },
 
     /*
@@ -531,9 +544,7 @@ mergeInto(LibraryManager.library, {
      * Set the text in the status bar.
      */
     js_canvas_set_statusbar: function(ptr) {
-        var text = UTF8ToString(ptr);
-        statusbar.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(text),
-                               statusbar.lastChild);
+        statusbar.textContent = UTF8ToString(ptr);
     },
 
     /*
diff --git a/emccpre.js b/emccpre.js
index 78e949e..61ce21e 100644
--- a/emccpre.js
+++ b/emccpre.js
@@ -443,9 +443,10 @@ function initPuzzle() {
                                    ['number','number']);
     timer_callback = Module.cwrap('timer_callback', 'void', ['number']);
 
-    // Save references to the two permalinks.
+    // Save references to the two permalinks and the status bar.
     permalink_desc = document.getElementById("permalink-desc");
     permalink_seed = document.getElementById("permalink-seed");
+    statusbar = document.getElementById("statusbar");
 
     resizable_div = document.getElementById("resizable");
     if (resizable_div !== null) {