diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Click.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Click.js
index a149bc0ca0..62a3baad10 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Click.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Click.js
@@ -159,7 +159,10 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Click = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
                 this.clearTimer();
             } else {
                 // set the timer, send evt only if single is true
-                var clickEvent = this.single ? evt : null;
+                //use a clone of the event object because it will no longer 
+                //be a valid event object in IE in the timer callback
+                var clickEvent = this.single ?
+                    OpenLayers.Util.extend({}, evt) : null;
                 this.timerId = window.setTimeout(
                     OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.delayedCall, this, clickEvent),
                     this.delay
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Hover.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Hover.js
index 1d04e2708a..28644ea6ab 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Hover.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Hover.js
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Hover = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
             this.clearTimer();
             this.callback('move', [evt]);
             this.px = evt.xy;
+            // clone the evt so original properties can be accessed even
+            // if the browser deletes them during the delay
+            evt = OpenLayers.Util.extend({}, evt);
             this.timerId = window.setTimeout(
                 OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.delayedCall, this, evt),
                 this.delay
diff --git a/tests/Handler/test_Click.html b/tests/Handler/test_Click.html
index c0fe4a30b5..65197dff1f 100644
--- a/tests/Handler/test_Click.html
+++ b/tests/Handler/test_Click.html
@@ -129,10 +129,10 @@
                 t.fail("clearTimeout called with non-existent timerId");
             }
         }
-        var testEvt = Math.random();
+        var testEvt = {id: Math.random()};
         handler.callbacks = {
             "click": function(evt) {
-                t.eq(evt, testEvt,
+                t.eq(evt.id, testEvt.id,
                      "(click w/ single true) click callback called with correct evt");
             },
             "dblclick": function(evt) {
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
         // mouse moves one pixel, click should be called
         handler.callbacks = {
             "click": function(evt) {
-                t.ok(evt == clickEvt, "(pixelTolerance met) click called");
+                t.ok(evt.xy == clickEvt.xy, "(pixelTolerance met) click called");
             }
         };
         map.events.triggerEvent("click", clickEvt);
diff --git a/tests/Handler/test_Hover.html b/tests/Handler/test_Hover.html
index 630b9123e0..075aa14f71 100644
--- a/tests/Handler/test_Hover.html
+++ b/tests/Handler/test_Hover.html
@@ -78,16 +78,16 @@
         var testEvt;
 
         // test pause and move callbacks - four tests here (2 from setTimeout above)
-        testEvt = Math.random();
+        testEvt = {id: Math.random()};
         handler.callbacks = {
             "pause": function(evt) {
-                t.eq(evt, testEvt,
+                t.eq(evt.id, testEvt.id,
                      "pause callback called with correct evt");
-             },
-             "move": function(evt) {
-                t.eq(evt, testEvt,
-                    "move callback called with correct evt");
-             }
+            },
+            "move": function(evt) {
+               t.eq(evt.id, testEvt.id,
+                   "move callback called with correct evt");
+            }
         };
         map.events.triggerEvent("mousemove", testEvt);
         handler.clearTimer();
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
         // mouse moves 3x3 pixels, callbacks should be called
         handler.callbacks =  {
             "pause": function(evt) {
-                t.ok(evt == testEvt, "(pixelTolerance unmet) pause callback called");
+                t.ok(evt.xy == testEvt.xy, "(pixelTolerance unmet) pause callback called");
             },
             "move": function(evt) {
                 t.ok(evt == testEvt, "(pixelTolerance unmet) move callback called");