diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index c5b186253d..e0edba8a73 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -873,13 +873,11 @@ OpenLayers.Util.toFloat = function (number, precision) {
     if (precision == null) {
         precision = OpenLayers.Util.DEFAULT_PRECISION;
     }
-    var number;
-    if (precision == 0) {
+    if (typeof number !== "number") {
         number = parseFloat(number);
-    } else {
-        number = parseFloat(parseFloat(number).toPrecision(precision));
     }
-    return number;
+    return precision === 0 ? number :
+                             parseFloat(number.toPrecision(precision));
 };
 
 /**