diff --git a/src/core/PaperScope.js b/src/core/PaperScope.js
index cdc5c216..b5f91a57 100644
--- a/src/core/PaperScope.js
+++ b/src/core/PaperScope.js
@@ -189,9 +189,6 @@ var PaperScope = Base.extend(/** @lends PaperScope# */{
 		// Make sure this is the active scope, so the created project and view
 		// are automatically associated with it.
 		paper = this;
-		// Link the element to this scope, so we can reuse the scope when
-		// compiling multiple scripts for the same element.
-		element.setAttribute('data-paper-scope', this._id);
 		// Create an empty project for the scope.
 		this.project = new Project(element);
 		// This is needed in PaperScript.load().
@@ -237,15 +234,11 @@ var PaperScope = Base.extend(/** @lends PaperScope# */{
 			_id: 0,
 
 			/**
-			 * Retrieves a PaperScope object with the given id or associated
-			 * with the passed canvas element.
+			 * Retrieves a PaperScope object with the given scope id.
 			 *
 			 * @param id
 			 */
 			get: function(id) {
-				// If an element is passed, get the id from it.
-				if (id && id.getAttribute)
-					id = id.getAttribute('data-paper-scope');
 				return this._scopes[id] || null;
 			},
 
diff --git a/src/core/PaperScript.js b/src/core/PaperScript.js
index 467d1da2..8fe740db 100644
--- a/src/core/PaperScript.js
+++ b/src/core/PaperScript.js
@@ -449,14 +449,21 @@ Base.exports.PaperScript = (function() {
 				// retrieved through PaperScope.get().
 				// If a canvas id is provided, pass it on to the PaperScope
 				// so a project is created for it now.
-				var canvas = PaperScope.getAttribute(script, 'canvas'),
-					src = script.src;
-				canvas = document.getElementById(canvas) || canvas;
+				var canvasId = PaperScope.getAttribute(script, 'canvas'),
+					canvas = document.getElementById(canvasId),
+					src = script.src,
+					scopeKey = 'data-paper-scope';
+				if (!canvas)
+					throw new Error('Unable to find canvas with id "'
+							+ canvasId + '"');
 				// See if there already is a scope for this canvas and reuse
 				// it, to support multiple scripts per canvas. Otherwise
 				// create a new one.
-				var scope = PaperScope.get(canvas)
+				var scope = PaperScope.get(canvas.getAttribute(scopeKey))
 							|| new PaperScope().setup(canvas);
+				// Link the element to this scope, so we can reuse the scope
+				// when compiling multiple scripts for the same element.
+				canvas.setAttribute(scopeKey, scope._id);
 				if (src) {
 					// If we're loading from a source, request that first and
 					// then run later.