diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index 32fb6cc7..9824e9e9 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ OPENSEADRAGON CHANGELOG
     * Viewer.innerTracker.clickHandler: preventDefaultAction == true prevents viewer zoom on click
     * Viewer.innerTracker.dragHandler: preventDefaultAction == true prevents viewer panning with mouse/touch
     * Viewer.innerTracker.scrollHandler: preventDefaultAction == true prevents viewer zooming on mousewheel/pinch
+* Fixed: IE8 error with custom buttons - "Object doesn't support this action" (#279)
 
 0.9.131:
 
diff --git a/src/button.js b/src/button.js
index 8a09cdb0..ef0e460e 100644
--- a/src/button.js
+++ b/src/button.js
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ $.Button = function( options ) {
     }, options );
 
     this.element        = options.element   || $.makeNeutralElement( "button" );
-    this.element.href   = this.element.href || '#';
 
     //if the user has specified the element to bind the control to explicitly
     //then do not add the default control images