diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/javascripts/effects.js b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/javascripts/effects.js
index 3abb0eed04..c1befe5397 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/javascripts/effects.js
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/javascripts/effects.js
@@ -86,9 +86,12 @@ Element.childrenWithClassName = function(element, className) {
 }
 
 Element.forceRerendering = function(element) {
-  var n = document.createTextNode(' ');
-  $(element).appendChild(n);
-  Element.remove(n);
+  try {
+    element = $(element);
+    var n = document.createTextNode(' ');
+    element.appendChild(n);
+    element.removeChild(n);
+  } catch(e) {}
 }
 
 Array.prototype.call = function() {
diff --git a/railties/html/javascripts/dragdrop.js b/railties/html/javascripts/dragdrop.js
index b44afe4881..2b68ee30e4 100644
--- a/railties/html/javascripts/dragdrop.js
+++ b/railties/html/javascripts/dragdrop.js
@@ -558,9 +558,10 @@ var Sortable = {
   findElements: function(element, options) {
     if(!element.hasChildNodes()) return null;
     var elements = [];
+    var only = options.only ? [options.only].flatten() : null;
     $A(element.childNodes).each( function(e) {
       if(e.tagName && e.tagName.toUpperCase()==options.tag.toUpperCase() &&
-        (!options.only || (Element.hasClassName(e, options.only))))
+        (!only || (Element.classNames(e).detect(function(v) { return only.include(v) }))))
           elements.push(e);
       if(options.tree) {
         var grandchildren = this.findElements(e, options);
diff --git a/railties/html/javascripts/effects.js b/railties/html/javascripts/effects.js
index 3abb0eed04..c1befe5397 100644
--- a/railties/html/javascripts/effects.js
+++ b/railties/html/javascripts/effects.js
@@ -86,9 +86,12 @@ Element.childrenWithClassName = function(element, className) {
 }
 
 Element.forceRerendering = function(element) {
-  var n = document.createTextNode(' ');
-  $(element).appendChild(n);
-  Element.remove(n);
+  try {
+    element = $(element);
+    var n = document.createTextNode(' ');
+    element.appendChild(n);
+    element.removeChild(n);
+  } catch(e) {}
 }
 
 Array.prototype.call = function() {