             _text = value.replace(ALL_LINEFEEDS, "\r");
             
             // _htmlText is now invalid and will get regenerated on demand
-            _htmlHelper = null;
+            // _htmlHelper will be set to null in validateNow() after we use it
+            // to clear the container of any TLF generated textLines.
             
             clearFlag(FLAG_HTML_TEXT_SET);
             

        if (!textContainerManager)
            textContainerManager = new FTETextFieldTextContainerManager(textField);
                
        // FIXME: TLF is investigating if we need this because of a bug
        // in updateContainer().  If so, this can be removed when the bug
        // is fixed.
        
        // Make sure there is nothing leftover on the display list from
        // a previous composition of text.
        textContainerManager.clearContainerChildren(true); // recycle lines
        textContainerManager.clearComposedLines();
       
        textContainerManager.compositionWidth = compositionWidth;
        textContainerManager.compositionHeight = compositionHeight;
        

            return preservingHTMLImporter;
        }
    }   
 
    /**
     *  @private
     */
    public function clearContainerChildren():void
    {
        // Make sure there is nothing leftover on the display list from
        // a previous composition of text.
        if (textContainerManager)
        {
            // recycle lines
            textContainerManager.clearContainerChildren(true);
            textContainerManager.clearComposedLines();
        }
    }

    /**
     *  @private
     */
