diff --git a/etemplate/js/et2_widget_template.js b/etemplate/js/et2_widget_template.js
index 7eeab7c94b..29d02532ab 100644
--- a/etemplate/js/et2_widget_template.js
+++ b/etemplate/js/et2_widget_template.js
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ var et2_template = et2_DOMWidget.extend(
 
 			// Check to see if XML is known
 			var xml = null;
-			var templates = this.getRoot().getInstanceManager().templates;
+			var templates = etemplate2.prototype.templates || this.getRoot().getInstanceManager().templates;
 			if(!(xml = templates[template_name]))
 			{
 				// Check to see if ID is short form --> prepend parent/top-level name