diff --git a/app/terrarium.js b/app/terrarium.js
index 7d7f013..923d06f 100644
--- a/app/terrarium.js
+++ b/app/terrarium.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ var dom = require('./dom.js');
  *   @param {array} background      an RGB triplet for the canvas' background
  */
 function Terrarium(width, height, options) {
+  options = options || {};
   var cellSize = options.cellSize || 10;
   this.width = width;
   this.height = height;
diff --git a/bower.json b/bower.json
index 320bbfc..af66b3d 100644
--- a/bower.json
+++ b/bower.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "terra",
-  "version": "1.3.0-beta",
+  "version": "1.3.1-beta",
   "homepage": "https://github.com/rileyjshaw/terra",
   "authors": [
     "rileyjshaw <i@rileyjshaw.com>"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5e9ca57..842030a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "terra",
-  "version": "1.3.0-beta",
+  "version": "1.3.1-beta",
   "description": "A JavaScript library for simple biological simulations and cellular automata.",
   "main": "dist/terra.min.js",
   "scripts": {