diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index 182188b186..054c07439c 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
             Object.extend(mergedOptions, newOptions);
         }
             
-        return new OpenLayers.Layer(newName, mergedOptions);
+        var clone = new OpenLayers.Layer(newName, mergedOptions);
+
+        return clone;
     },