diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
index 68b4ccfd28..96d329a1f8 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
@@ -483,8 +483,10 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
         control.setMap(this);
         var div = control.draw(px);
         if (div) {
-            // only elements without parents should be appended to the viewport
-            if(!div.parentNode) {
+            // Only elements without parents should be appended to the viewport.
+            // In IE, even elements without parents are given a parent node
+            // of type 11 (DOCUMENT_FRAGMENT_NODE).
+            if(!div.parentNode || (div.parentNode.nodeType == 11)) {
                 div.style.zIndex = this.Z_INDEX_BASE['Control'] +
                                     this.controls.length;
                 this.viewPortDiv.appendChild( div );