diff --git a/jquery.timeago.js b/jquery.timeago.js
index 2e8d29f5..b8b93608 100644
--- a/jquery.timeago.js
+++ b/jquery.timeago.js
@@ -113,7 +113,19 @@
 
     var $s = $t.settings;
     if ($s.refreshMillis > 0) {
-      setInterval(function() { self.each(refresh); }, $s.refreshMillis);
+      var intervalId = setInterval(function() {
+        var destroyed = 0;
+        self.each(function() {
+          if($(this).parents(":last").is("html") == false) {
+            destroyed++;
+          } else {
+            refresh.call(this);
+          }
+        });
+        if (destroyed === self.length) {
+          clearInterval(intervalId);
+        }
+      }, $s.refreshMillis);
     }
     return self;
   };