diff --git a/js/jquery.mobile.event.js b/js/jquery.mobile.event.js
index c92ae0bb..a5d5ddf7 100644
--- a/js/jquery.mobile.event.js
+++ b/js/jquery.mobile.event.js
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ $.event.special.swipe = {
 
 $.event.special.orientationchange = {
 	orientation: function( elem ) {
-		return document.body && elem.width() / elem.height() < 1.1 ? "portrait" : "landscape";
+		return document.documentElement && document.documentElement.clientWidth / document.documentElement.clientHeight < 1.1 ? "portrait" : "landscape";
 	},
 	
 	setup: function() {