diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 89cb14ebef..da7e65bb32 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ OpenLayers.Util.alphaHack = function() {
     var arVersion = navigator.appVersion.split("MSIE");
     var version = parseFloat(arVersion[1]);
     
-    var alphaHack = ( (document.body.filters) &&
+    return ( (document.body.filters) &&
                       (version >= 5.5) && (version < 7) );
 }