diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js
index 61b27f4e52..1113d0bcee 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer, {
         if (style.display != "none") {
             this.redrawNode(geometry.id, geometry, style, featureId); 
         } else {
-            node = OpenLayers.Util.getElement(geometry.id);
+            var node = OpenLayers.Util.getElement(geometry.id);
             if (node) {
                 node.parentNode.removeChild(node);
             }