diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js
index b6eb6d106c..dd571cc138 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Vector.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.prototype =
     features: null,
     
     /** @type Array(OpenLayers.Feature.Vector) */
-    selectedFeatures: [],
+    selectedFeatures: null,
 
     /** @type {Boolean} */
     reportError: true, 
@@ -252,8 +252,10 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.prototype =
     },
 
     /**
+     * Destroy all features on the layer and empty the selected features array.
      */
     destroyFeatures: function () {
+        this.selectedFeatures = new Array();
         for (var i = this.features.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
             this.features[i].destroy();
         }
diff --git a/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html b/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html
index 6816e9a88f..b7565a5556 100644
--- a/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html
+++ b/tests/Layer/test_Vector.html
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
     }
 
     function test_Layer_Vector_destroyFeatures (t) {
-        t.plan(2); 
+        t.plan(3); 
         layer = new OpenLayers.Layer.Vector(name);
         var map = new OpenLayers.Map('map');
         map.addLayer(layer);
@@ -133,8 +133,10 @@
         }
         layer.addFeatures(features);
         t.eq(layer.features.length, 5, "addFeatures adds 5 features");
+        layer.selectedFeatures.push(features[0]); 
         layer.destroyFeatures();
         t.eq(layer.features.length, 0, "destroyFeatures triggers removal");
+        t.eq(layer.selectedFeatures, [], "Destroy features removes selected features");
     }
 
     function test_99_Layer_Vector_destroy (t) {