error using _superApply() in IE8

Using jQuery 1.9.1 and jQuery UI 1.10.3 on IE8 or a later IE browser set to IE8 Browser and Document Modes. The call to _superApply() came from code inheriting jQuery UI widgets, but the error occurs in the jQuery UI code. The error marks line 86 of the jquery.ui.widget.js file (as displayed on github). The actual error states that 'Function.prototype.apply: argument is null or undefined'.

Example: http://jsfiddle.net/sarahu/JeBQd/

The code that causes the error:

_superApply = function( args ) {
   return base.prototype[ prop ].apply( this, args );
};

My quick solution that does not seem to cause problems anywhere else:

_superApply = function( args ) {
   if(args==undefined){return base.prototype[ prop ].apply( this);}
   else{return base.prototype[ prop ].apply( this, args );}
};