diff --git a/runtime/vdom/Node.js b/runtime/vdom/Node.js
index 166e4d4fb..be40e799c 100644
--- a/runtime/vdom/Node.js
+++ b/runtime/vdom/Node.js
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ Node.prototype = {
     },
 
     $__appendChild: function(child) {
+        this.$__childCount++;
+        
         if (this.$__isTextArea) {
             if (child.$__Text) {
                 var childValue = child.nodeValue;
@@ -77,8 +79,6 @@ Node.prototype = {
                 assignNamespace(child, namespaceURI);
             }
 
-            this.$__childCount++;
-
             var lastChild = this.$__lastChild;
 
             child.$__parentNode = this;
diff --git a/test/autotests/widgets-browser/textarea/index.marko b/test/autotests/widgets-browser/textarea/index.marko
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c1113b80f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/autotests/widgets-browser/textarea/index.marko
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<script>
+module.exports = {
+    onInput: function(attrs) {
+        this.state = { code: '// Your code here', errorText: '' }
+    },
+    submit: function() {
+        this.state.errorText = 'Placeholder error'
+    }
+}
+</script>
+<div class="code-editor">
+    <h3>Code Editor</h3>
+    <div>
+        <textarea>${state.code}</textarea>
+    </div>
+    <button on-click('submit')>Run Code</button>
+    <pre class="error-message">${state.errorText}</pre>
+</div>
diff --git a/test/autotests/widgets-browser/textarea/test.js b/test/autotests/widgets-browser/textarea/test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..66e94c0e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/autotests/widgets-browser/textarea/test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+var expect = require('chai').expect;
+
+module.exports = function(helpers) {
+    var widget = helpers.mount(require('./index.marko'));
+
+    expect(widget.el.querySelector('pre').innerHTML).to.equal('');
+
+    widget.submit();
+    widget.update();
+
+    expect(widget.el.querySelector('pre').innerHTML).to.equal('Placeholder error');
+};
\ No newline at end of file