diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
index 5ebfdc96ee..b6b1e650ec 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
@@ -115,9 +115,6 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
 
         this.div = div = $(div);
 
-        //give the div a reference to the OpenLayers.Map object
-        div.map = this;
-
         // the viewPortDiv is the outermost div we modify
         var id = div.id + "_OpenLayers_ViewPort";
         this.viewPortDiv = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv(id, null, null, null,