diff --git a/lib/situation.js b/lib/situation.js
index c2e93dd..f95f874 100644
--- a/lib/situation.js
+++ b/lib/situation.js
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ RaconteurSituation.prototype.act = function (character, system, action) {
       if (self.writers[ref] === undefined) {
         throw new Error("Tried to call undefined writer:" + ref);
       }
-      if ($('.options')) {
+      if ($('.options').length) {
         system.writeBefore(
           markdown.render(
             self.writers[ref].fcall(self, character, system, action))