diff --git a/public/trivabble.js b/public/trivabble.js
index 1af9d44..fdee244 100644
--- a/public/trivabble.js
+++ b/public/trivabble.js
@@ -2544,7 +2544,13 @@
         let cell;
         let row;
 
-        board.innerHTML = "<tr><td class=\"corner\"></td></tr>";
+        /* empty board */
+        while (board.firstChild) {
+            board.removeChild(board.lastChild);
+        }
+        cell = board.insertRow(0).insertCell(0);
+        cell.className = "corner";
+        boardCells.length = 0;
 
         for (let j = 0; j < boardDef.nbColumns; j++) {
             board.rows[0].appendChild(document.createElement("th"));
@@ -2597,7 +2603,9 @@
 
         row.appendChild(board.rows[0].cells[0].cloneNode(false));
 
-        rack.innerHTML = "";
+        while (rack.firstChild) {
+            rack.removeChild(rack.lastChild);
+        }
         playerLetters.length = 0;
 
         for (let i = 0; i < boardDef.rackLength; i++) {