diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 50aef912d6..1fa9ba69ec 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.prototype =
         OpenLayers.Tile.prototype.initialize.apply(this, arguments);
     },
 
+    destroy: function() {
+        this.layer.div.removeChild(this.img);
+        this.img = null;
+    },
+
     /**
     */
     draw:function() {
@@ -31,6 +36,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.prototype =
                                                this.size,
                                                this.url,
                                                "absolute");
+        this.layer.div.appendChild(this.img);
     },
 
     /** @final @type String */