diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index b2ab86349f..6918a5e1a7 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
     // OpenLayers.Map
     map: null,
 
-    status: null,
-
     /**
     * @param {str} name
     */
@@ -20,7 +18,6 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
         this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
         this.div.style.width="100%";
         this.div.style.height="100%";
-        this.status = true;
     },
     
     /**
@@ -39,16 +36,13 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
         // not implemented here
         return;
     },
+    
     getVisibility: function() {
-        return this.status;
+        return (this.div.style.display != "none");
     },
-    setVisibility: function(on) {
-        if (on) {
-            this.div.style.display="block";
-        } else {
-            this.div.style.display="none";
-        }
-        this.status = on;
+
+    setVisibility: function(visible) {
+        this.div.style.display = (visible) ? "block" : "none";
     }
     
 };