diff --git a/src/static/js/timeslider.js b/src/static/js/timeslider.js
index d00c5912..b3c10b8a 100644
--- a/src/static/js/timeslider.js
+++ b/src/static/js/timeslider.js
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function init() {
     var resource = exports.baseURL.substring(1) + 'socket.io';
     
     //build up the socket io connection
-    var socket = io.connect(url, {resource: resource});
+    socket = io.connect(url, {resource: resource});
 
     //send the ready message once we're connected
     socket.on('connect', function()