diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 3a375c645c..179de144ba 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -986,22 +986,38 @@ OpenLayers.Util.pagePosition = function(forElement) {
     var valueT = 0, valueL = 0;
 
     var element = forElement;
-    do {
-      valueT += element.offsetTop  || 0;
-      valueL += element.offsetLeft || 0;
+    var child = forElement;
+    while(element) {
 
-      // Safari fix
-      if (element.offsetParent==document.body)
-        if (OpenLayers.Element.getStyle(element,'position')=='absolute') break;
+        if(element == document.body) {
+            if(OpenLayers.Element.getStyle(child, 'position') == 'absolute') {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        
+        valueT += element.offsetTop  || 0;
+        valueL += element.offsetLeft || 0;
 
-    } while (element = element.offsetParent);
+        child = element;
+        try {
+            // wrapping this in a try/catch because IE chokes on the offsetParent
+            element = element.offsetParent;
+        } catch(e) {
+            OpenLayers.Console.error(
+                "OpenLayers.Util.pagePosition failed: element with id " +
+                element.id + " may be misplaced."
+            );
+            break;
+        }
+    }
 
     element = forElement;
-    do {
-      valueT -= element.scrollTop  || 0;
-      valueL -= element.scrollLeft || 0;
-    } while (element = element.parentNode);
-
+    while(element) {
+        valueT -= element.scrollTop  || 0;
+        valueL -= element.scrollLeft || 0;
+        element = element.parentNode;
+    }
+    
     return [valueL, valueT];
 };