diff --git a/src/pyj/dom.pyj b/src/pyj/dom.pyj
index a4d80bff63..f88ba5da3c 100644
--- a/src/pyj/dom.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/dom.pyj
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ def set_css(elem, **kw):
                         s.removeProperty('-' + prefix + '-' + name)
                     else:
                         s.setProperty('-' + prefix + '-' + name, val)
+    return elem
 
 def build_rule(selector, **kw):
     ans = v'[selector + " { "]'
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj
index 18c69fc1c7..169afcd475 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/overlay.pyj
@@ -40,16 +40,13 @@ class MainOverlay:  # {{{
 
     def show(self, container):
         self.container_id = container.getAttribute('id')
-        top_row = E.div(
-            E.div(
+        container.appendChild(set_css(E.div(
+            set_css(E.div(
+                onclick=def (evt):evt.stopPropagation();,
                 E.div(self.overlay.view.book.metadata.title, style='max-width: 90%; text-overflow: ellipsis'),
                 E.div(self.date_formatter.format(Date()), style='max-width: 9%; text-overflow: ellipsis'),
-                onclick=def (evt):evt.stopPropagation();,
-                style='font-size: smaller; padding: 0.5ex 1rem; border-bottom: solid 1px currentColor'
-            )
-        )
-        set_css(top_row.firstChild, background_color=get_color('window-background'), display='flex', justify_content='space-between', align_items='baseline')
-        container.appendChild(top_row)
+            ), display='flex', justify_content='space-between', align_items='baseline', font_size='smaller', padding='0.5ex 1rem', border_bottom='solid 1px currentColor')
+        ), background_color=get_color('window-background')))
         self.timer = setInterval(self.update_time, 1000)
 
     def update_time(self):