diff --git a/js/notebook/src/tree/Utils/DOMUtils.ts b/js/notebook/src/tree/Utils/DOMUtils.ts
index 3e570bb5f1..aa89b7d102 100644
--- a/js/notebook/src/tree/Utils/DOMUtils.ts
+++ b/js/notebook/src/tree/Utils/DOMUtils.ts
@@ -26,9 +26,12 @@ export default class DOMUtils {
         display:"block",
         position:"absolute"
       });
-    $('body').append(copyEl);
+    let fakeEl = $('<div>', { id: 'beakerx-tree' });
+    fakeEl.appendTo($('body'));
+    copyEl.appendTo(fakeEl);
     let h = copyEl.outerHeight();
     copyEl.remove();
+    fakeEl.remove();
     return h;
   }
 }