diff --git a/src/ol/control/control.js b/src/ol/control/control.js
index f2912d0c0f..4ebab38345 100644
--- a/src/ol/control/control.js
+++ b/src/ol/control/control.js
@@ -30,12 +30,10 @@ ol.control.Control = function(options) {
 
   /**
    * @private
-   * @type {Element|undefined}
+   * @type {?Element}
    */
-  this.target_ = goog.isDef(options.target) ? (goog.isString(options.target) ?
-      goog.dom.getElement(options.target) !== null ?
-      goog.dom.getElement(options.target) : undefined : options.target) :
-      undefined;
+  this.target_ = goog.isDef(options.target) ?
+      goog.dom.getElement(options.target) : null;
 
   /**
    * @private
@@ -98,7 +96,7 @@ ol.control.Control.prototype.setMap = function(map) {
   }
   this.map_ = map;
   if (!goog.isNull(this.map_)) {
-    var target = goog.isDef(this.target_) ?
+    var target = !goog.isNull(this.target_) ?
         this.target_ : map.getOverlayContainerStopEvent();
     goog.dom.appendChild(target, this.element);
     if (this.handleMapPostrender !== goog.nullFunction) {
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/control/control.test.js b/test/spec/ol/control/control.test.js
index 2b988076d2..22a555c134 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/control/control.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/control/control.test.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ describe('ol.control.Control\'s target', function() {
     });
     it('ignores non-existing target id', function() {
       var ctrl = new ol.control.Control({target: 'doesnotexist'});
-      expect(ctrl.target_).to.equal(undefined);
+      expect(ctrl.target_).to.equal(null);
       goog.dispose(ctrl);
     });
   });