When using Common HTML, bad formats display as [Math processing error] for a moment then just disappear. Here's an example:
$\begin{notanenvironment} \notacommnd \end{notanenvironment}$
For me, on Chrome 45.0.2454.101 in Windows 10, HTML-CSS renders with the box as previously.
Note that when I jump to this answer directly, it remains as [Math processing error] (in red). (And when editing this answer the preview remains in this state for seconds -- after rerendering for every keystroke -- then returns to blank as described above, if you wait.)