diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 4f5e6fb9..9babe13d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@
   "main": "server.js",
   "dependencies": {
     "ejs": "~0.8.5",
-    "express": "~3.4.8",
+    "express": "~3.3.x",
     "node-uuid": "~1.4.1",
     "nodemon": "~1.0.13",
     "npid": "~0.4.0",
-    "socket.io": "~0.9.16",
+    "socket.io": "1.3.5",
     "shrinkwrap": "~0.0.3",
     "underscore": "~1.5.2",
     "bower": "~1.2.8"
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 947ae340..8ba54de6 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -79,6 +79,11 @@ <h4 class="modal-title" id="createRoomLabel">Create room</h4>
   <script src="components/jquery/dist/jquery.js"></script>
   <script src="components/bootstrap/dist/js/bootstrap.js"></script>
   <script src="/socket.io/socket.io.js"></script>  
+  <script type="text/javascript">
+    //setup "global" variables first
+    var socket = io.connect("127.0.0.1:3000");
+    var myRoomID = null;
+  </script>  
   <script src="js/client.js"></script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/public/js/client.js b/public/js/client.js
index b14d88f1..ae1f6605 100644
--- a/public/js/client.js
+++ b/public/js/client.js
@@ -80,9 +80,6 @@ function timeFormat(msTime) {
 }
 
 $(document).ready(function() {
-  //setup "global" variables first
-  var socket = io.connect("127.0.0.1:3000");
-  var myRoomID = null;
 
   $("form").submit(function(event) {
     event.preventDefault();