diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
index ad72de5fb4..eb632c62ca 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.VML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
 
         // additional rendering for rotated graphics or symbols
         var rotation = style.rotation;
-        if (rotation !== node._rotation) {
+        if ((rotation !== undefined || node._rotation !== undefined)) {
             node._rotation = rotation;
             if (style.externalGraphic) {
                 this.graphicRotate(node, xOffset, yOffset, style);