diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js
index a37e24aa41..a7726d86d1 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js
@@ -34,20 +34,28 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Panel.prototype =
     },
 
     activate: function() {
-        OpenLayers.Control.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments);
-        for(var i = 0; i < this.controls.length; i++) {
-            if (this.controls[i] == this.defaultControl) {
-                this.controls[i].activate();
-            }
-        }    
-        this.redraw();
+        if (OpenLayers.Control.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            for(var i = 0; i < this.controls.length; i++) {
+                if (this.controls[i] == this.defaultControl) {
+                    this.controls[i].activate();
+                }
+            }    
+            this.redraw();
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
     },
     deactivate: function() {
-        OpenLayers.Control.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments);
-        for(var i = 0; i < this.controls.length; i++) {
-            this.controls[i].deactivate();
-        }    
-        this.redraw();
+        if (OpenLayers.Control.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            for(var i = 0; i < this.controls.length; i++) {
+                this.controls[i].deactivate();
+            }    
+            this.redraw();
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
     },
     
     /**
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
index d503cc3a34..7194c262ae 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
@@ -113,13 +113,21 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Box.prototype = OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Handler,
     },
 
     activate: function () {
-        OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments);
-        this.dragHandler.activate();
+        if (OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            this.dragHandler.activate();
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
     },
 
     deactivate: function () {
-        OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments);
-        this.dragHandler.deactivate();
+        if (OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            this.dragHandler.deactivate();
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
     },
 
     CLASS_NAME: "OpenLayers.Handler.Box"
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js
index bce0f105cc..2ac61ad5f0 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js
@@ -42,18 +42,26 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Keyboard.prototype = OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Han
     },
 
     activate: function() {
-        OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments);
-        for (var i = 0; i < this.KEY_EVENTS.length; i++) {
-            OpenLayers.Event.observe(
-                window, this.KEY_EVENTS[i], this.eventListener);
+        if (OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            for (var i = 0; i < this.KEY_EVENTS.length; i++) {
+                OpenLayers.Event.observe(
+                    window, this.KEY_EVENTS[i], this.eventListener);
+            }
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
         }
     },
 
     deactivate: function() {
-        OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments);
-        for (var i = 0; i < this.KEY_EVENTS.length; i++) {
-            OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(
-                document, this.KEY_EVENTS[i], this.eventListener);
+        if (OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            for (var i = 0; i < this.KEY_EVENTS.length; i++) {
+                OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(
+                    document, this.KEY_EVENTS[i], this.eventListener);
+            }
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
         }
     },
 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
index 18425b7ff3..91477cabbb 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
@@ -103,21 +103,29 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.MouseWheel.prototype = OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.H
     },
 
     activate: function (evt) {
-        OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments);
-        //register mousewheel events specifically on the window and document
-        var wheelListener = this.wheelListener;
-        OpenLayers.Event.observe(window, "DOMMouseScroll", wheelListener);
-        OpenLayers.Event.observe(window, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
-        OpenLayers.Event.observe(document, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
+        if (OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            //register mousewheel events specifically on the window and document
+            var wheelListener = this.wheelListener;
+            OpenLayers.Event.observe(window, "DOMMouseScroll", wheelListener);
+            OpenLayers.Event.observe(window, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
+            OpenLayers.Event.observe(document, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
     },
 
     deactivate: function (evt) {
-        OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments);
-        // unregister mousewheel events specifically on the window and document
-        var wheelListener = this.wheelListener;
-        OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(window, "DOMMouseScroll", wheelListener);
-        OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(window, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
-        OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(document, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
+        if (OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            // unregister mousewheel events specifically on the window and document
+            var wheelListener = this.wheelListener;
+            OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(window, "DOMMouseScroll", wheelListener);
+            OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(window, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
+            OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(document, "mousewheel", wheelListener);
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
     },
 
     /** @final @type String */