diff --git a/demo/pop/init.lua b/demo/pop/init.lua
index 5275323..33069fe 100644
--- a/demo/pop/init.lua
+++ b/demo/pop/init.lua
@@ -59,14 +59,31 @@ pop.load = function()
   pop.screen = pop.create("element", false):setSize(graphics.getWidth(), graphics.getHeight())
   return print("created \"pop.screen\"")
 end
+local instanceOfElement
+instanceOfElement = function(object)
+  if object and object.__class then
+    local cls = object.__class
+    if cls.__name == "element" then
+      return true
+    end
+    while cls.__parent do
+      cls = cls.__parent
+      if cls.__name == "element" then
+        return true
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  return false
+end
 pop.create = function(element, parent, ...)
   if parent == nil then
     parent = pop.screen
   end
-  if parent then
-    print(parent.__class, parent.__class.__name, parent.__class.__base, parent.__class.__parent)
+  if instanceOfElement(parent) then
+    element = pop.elements[element](parent, ...)
+  else
+    element = pop.elements[element](pop.screen, parent, ...)
   end
-  element = pop.elements[element](parent, ...)
   if parent then
     insert(parent.child, element)
   end
diff --git a/lib/pop/init.lua b/lib/pop/init.lua
index 5275323..33069fe 100644
--- a/lib/pop/init.lua
+++ b/lib/pop/init.lua
@@ -59,14 +59,31 @@ pop.load = function()
   pop.screen = pop.create("element", false):setSize(graphics.getWidth(), graphics.getHeight())
   return print("created \"pop.screen\"")
 end
+local instanceOfElement
+instanceOfElement = function(object)
+  if object and object.__class then
+    local cls = object.__class
+    if cls.__name == "element" then
+      return true
+    end
+    while cls.__parent do
+      cls = cls.__parent
+      if cls.__name == "element" then
+        return true
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  return false
+end
 pop.create = function(element, parent, ...)
   if parent == nil then
     parent = pop.screen
   end
-  if parent then
-    print(parent.__class, parent.__class.__name, parent.__class.__base, parent.__class.__parent)
+  if instanceOfElement(parent) then
+    element = pop.elements[element](parent, ...)
+  else
+    element = pop.elements[element](pop.screen, parent, ...)
   end
-  element = pop.elements[element](parent, ...)
   if parent then
     insert(parent.child, element)
   end
diff --git a/src/pop/init.moon b/src/pop/init.moon
index aae4c28..9ed6108 100644
--- a/src/pop/init.moon
+++ b/src/pop/init.moon
@@ -52,25 +52,21 @@ pop.load = ->
     print "created \"pop.screen\""
 
 instanceOfElement = (object) ->
-    if object.__class
-        class = object.__class
+    if object and object.__class
+        cls = object.__class
 
-        if class.__name == "element"
+        if cls.__name == "element"
             return true
 
-        while class.__parent
-            class = class.__parent
-            if class.__name == "element"
+        while cls.__parent
+            cls = cls.__parent
+            if cls.__name == "element"
                 return true
 
     return false
 
--- creates an element with specified parent (parent can be false)
+-- creates an element with specified parent (parent can be false or non-existent)
 pop.create = (element, parent=pop.screen, ...) ->
-    --if parent
-    --    print parent.__class, parent.__class.__name, parent.__class.__base, parent.__class.__parent
-    --element = pop.elements[element](parent, ...)
-
     if instanceOfElement parent
         element = pop.elements[element](parent, ...)
     else