diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js
index 0c5cccbaa8..ecd2a1f61d 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js
@@ -785,10 +785,13 @@ OpenLayers.Popup = OpenLayers.Class({
         //use cached value if we have it
         var contentDivPadding = this._contentDivPadding;
         if (!contentDivPadding) {
-            //make the div invisible and add it to the page        
-            this.div.style.display = "none";
-            document.body.appendChild(this.div);
-    
+
+        	if (this.div.parentNode == null) {
+	        	//make the div invisible and add it to the page        
+	            this.div.style.display = "none";
+	            document.body.appendChild(this.div);
+	    	}
+	            
             //read the padding settings from css, put them in an OL.Bounds        
             contentDivPadding = new OpenLayers.Bounds(
                 OpenLayers.Element.getStyle(this.contentDiv, "padding-left"),
@@ -799,10 +802,12 @@ OpenLayers.Popup = OpenLayers.Class({
     
             //cache the value
             this._contentDivPadding = contentDivPadding;
-    
-            //remove the div from the page and make it visible again
-            document.body.removeChild(this.div);
-            this.div.style.display = "";
+
+            if (this.div.parentNode == document.body) {
+	            //remove the div from the page and make it visible again
+	            document.body.removeChild(this.div);
+	            this.div.style.display = "";
+            }
         }
         return contentDivPadding;
     },