diff --git a/perf/tests/todolist-add.js b/perf/tests/todolist-add.js
index 7cccbbd6ac..80346a4820 100644
--- a/perf/tests/todolist-add.js
+++ b/perf/tests/todolist-add.js
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ exports.defer = true;
 exports.setup = function(){
   /*global*/_rootNode = document.createElement('div');
   document.body.appendChild(_rootNode);
-  /*global*/_app = todolist.App({ fakeDataCount: 333 });
-  React.renderComponent(_app, _rootNode);
+  var appDescriptor = todolist.App({ fakeDataCount: 333 });
+  /*global*/_app = React.renderComponent(appDescriptor, _rootNode);
 };
 exports.fn = function(deferred){
   var liCount = document.getElementsByTagName('li').length;
diff --git a/perf/tests/todolist-do-stuff.js b/perf/tests/todolist-do-stuff.js
index aee008c7b8..8b60844bd6 100644
--- a/perf/tests/todolist-do-stuff.js
+++ b/perf/tests/todolist-do-stuff.js
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ exports.defer = true;
 exports.setup = function(){
   /*global*/_rootNode = document.createElement('div');
   document.body.appendChild(_rootNode);
-  /*global*/_app = todolist.App({ fakeDataCount: 333 });
-  React.renderComponent(_app, _rootNode);
+  var appDescriptor = todolist.App({ fakeDataCount: 333 });
+  /*global*/_app = React.renderComponent(appDescriptor, _rootNode);
 };
 
 exports.fn = function(deferred){
diff --git a/perf/tests/todolist-edit.js b/perf/tests/todolist-edit.js
index bd12898001..06f46aa726 100644
--- a/perf/tests/todolist-edit.js
+++ b/perf/tests/todolist-edit.js
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ exports.defer = true;
 exports.setup = function(){
   /*global*/_rootNode = document.createElement('div');
   document.body.appendChild(_rootNode);
-  /*global*/_app = todolist.App({ fakeDataCount: 333 });
-  React.renderComponent(_app, _rootNode);
+  var appDescriptor = todolist.App({ fakeDataCount: 333 });
+  /*global*/_app = React.renderComponent(appDescriptor, _rootNode);
   /*global*/_todo1 = _app.addItem("Howdy 1!");
   /*global*/_todo2 = _app.addItem("Howdy 2!");
   /*global*/_todo3 = _app.addItem("Howdy 3!");