diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index 63f0aaab2a..8e3cb58141 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer = OpenLayers.Class({
             this.opacity = opacity;
             var childNodes = this.div.childNodes;
             for(var i = 0, len = childNodes.length; i < len; ++i) {
-                var element = childNodes[i].firstChild || childNodes[i];
+                var element = childNodes[i].lastChild || childNodes[i];
                 OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(element, null, null, null, 
                                                  null, null, null, opacity);
             }
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
index e65da76a9a..91b5b9e3e5 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.SVG = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
      */
     createDefs: function() {
         var defs = this.nodeFactory(this.container.id + "_defs", "defs");
-        this.rendererRoot.appendChild(defs);
+        this.rendererRoot.insertBefore(defs, this.root);
         return defs;
     },
 
diff --git a/lib/deprecated.js b/lib/deprecated.js
index 0cc3c1b6aa..face85c114 100644
--- a/lib/deprecated.js
+++ b/lib/deprecated.js
@@ -5256,7 +5256,7 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.SVG2 = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.NG, {
      */
     createDefs: function() {
         var defs = this.nodeFactory(this.container.id + "_defs", "defs");
-        this.rendererRoot.appendChild(defs);
+        this.rendererRoot.insertBefore(defs, this.root);
         return defs;
     },