diff --git a/layout-card.js b/layout-card.js
index 47bd53b..232abcd 100644
--- a/layout-card.js
+++ b/layout-card.js
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class LayoutCard extends Polymer.Element {
     } else {
       let colWidth = this.config.column_width || 300;
       numcols = Math.max(1,
-        this.$ ? Math.floor(this.parentElement.clientWidth/this.config.column_width) : 0);
+        this.parentElement ? Math.floor(this.parentElement.clientWidth/this.config.column_width) : 0);
     }
     numcols = Math.min(numcols, this.config.max_columns);
     if(numcols != this.colnum) {