diff --git a/src/manipulation.js b/src/manipulation.js
index 9a60d1089..e0edab197 100644
--- a/src/manipulation.js
+++ b/src/manipulation.js
@@ -156,15 +156,14 @@ jQuery.fn.extend({
 		var elem,
 			i = 0;
 
-		for ( ; (elem = this[i]) != null; i++ ) {
-			// Remove element nodes and prevent memory leaks
+		for ( ; ( elem = this[ i ] ) != null; i++ ) {
 			if ( elem.nodeType === 1 ) {
-				jQuery.cleanData( getAll( elem, false ) );
-			}
 
-			// Remove any remaining nodes
-			while ( elem.firstChild ) {
-				elem.removeChild( elem.firstChild );
+				// Remove element nodes and prevent memory leaks
+				jQuery.cleanData( getAll( elem, false ) );
+
+				// Remove any remaining nodes
+				elem.textContent = "";
 			}
 		}