}
 
 function init() {
-       
+
+       // IE kludge
+
+       if (xmlhttp && !xmlhttp_rpc) {
+               xmlhttp_rpc = xmlhttp;
+       }
+
+       if (!xmlhttp || !xmlhttp_rpc) {
+               document.getElementById("prefContent").innerHTML = 
+                       "<b>Fatal error:</b> This program needs XmlHttpRequest " + 
+                       "to function properly. Your browser doesn't seem to support it.";
+               return;
+       }
+
        updateFeedList();
        document.onkeydown = hotkey_handler;
        notify("");
 
        </td>
 </tr>
 </tr>
-       <td class="prefContent" valign="top" colspan="2">
+       <td id="prefContent" class="prefContent" valign="top" colspan="2">
                <h2>Feed Configuration</h2>
 
 <!--