diff --git a/src/js/player.js b/src/js/player.js
index 569ab04b9..07f853c72 100644
--- a/src/js/player.js
+++ b/src/js/player.js
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ vjs.Player.prototype.loadTech = function(techName, source){
   // So we need to remove it if we're not loading HTML5
   } else if (techName !== 'Html5' && this.tag) {
     this.el_.removeChild(this.tag);
-    this.tag.player = null;
+    this.tag['player'] = null;
     this.tag = null;
   }
 
diff --git a/test/unit/player.js b/test/unit/player.js
index c68d29099..18fb8d0e2 100644
--- a/test/unit/player.js
+++ b/test/unit/player.js
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ test('should get tag, source, and track settings', function(){
 
   player.dispose();
 
-  ok(tag['player'] === null, 'tag player ref killed');
+
+  ok(tag['player'] !== player, 'tag player ref killed');
   ok(!vjs.players['example_1'], 'global player ref killed');
   ok(player.el() === null, 'player el killed');
 });