diff --git a/src/core/Engine.js b/src/core/Engine.js
index 41c13e9..f77d7c9 100644
--- a/src/core/Engine.js
+++ b/src/core/Engine.js
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ var Engine = {};
      * @return {engine} engine
      */
     Engine.create = function(element, options) {
+
+        // options may be passed as the first (and only) argument
+        options = Common.isElement(element) ? options : element;
+        element = Common.isElement(element) ? element : null;
+
         var defaults = {
             enabled: true,
             positionIterations: 6,
@@ -52,20 +57,16 @@ var Engine = {};
                 correction: 1,
                 deltaMin: 1000 / _fps,
                 deltaMax: 1000 / (_fps * 0.5)
+            },
+            render: {
+                element: element,
+                controller: Render
             }
         };
         
         var engine = Common.extend(defaults, options);
-        engine = Common.isElement(element) ? (engine || {}) : element;
-
-        // create default renderer only if no custom renderer set
-        // but still allow engine.render.engine to pass through if set
-        if (!engine.render || (engine.render && !engine.render.controller)) {
-            engine.render = Render.create(engine.render);
-            if (Common.isElement(element))
-                element.appendChild(engine.render.canvas);
-        }
 
+        engine.render = engine.render.controller.create(engine.render);
         engine.world = World.create(engine.world);
         engine.metrics = engine.metrics || Metrics.create();
         engine.input.mouse = engine.input.mouse || Mouse.create(engine.render.canvas);
diff --git a/src/render/Render.js b/src/render/Render.js
index 8e6522b..0d01fef 100644
--- a/src/render/Render.js
+++ b/src/render/Render.js
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ var Render = {};
     Render.create = function(options) {
         var defaults = {
             controller: Render,
+            element: null,
+            canvas: null,
             options: {
                 width: 800,
                 height: 600,
@@ -49,6 +51,12 @@ var Render = {};
 
         Render.setBackground(render, render.options.background);
 
+        if (Common.isElement(render.element)) {
+            render.element.appendChild(render.canvas);
+        } else {
+            Common.log('No "render.element" passed, "render.canvas" was not inserted into document.', 'warn');
+        }
+
         return render;
     };