diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js
index 7e023a4fb4..9bf1dadd7e 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js
@@ -10,24 +10,12 @@
 OpenLayers.Control.Scale = Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.Scale.prototype = 
   Object.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
-    INCHES_PER_UNIT: { // borrowed from MapServer mapscale.c
-        inches: 1.0,
-        ft: 12.0,
-        mi: 63360.0,
-        m: 39.3701,
-        km: 39370.1,
-        dd: 4374754
-    },
-
     /** @type DOMElement */
     element: null,
     
     /** @type String */
     units: 'dd',
     
-    /** @type Integer */
-    dpi: 72,
-
     /**
      * @constructor
      * 
@@ -68,7 +56,8 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Scale.prototype =
         var res = this.map.getResolution();
         if (!res) return;
 
-        var scale = res * this.INCHES_PER_UNIT[this.units] * this.dpi;
+        var scale = res * OpenLayers.INCHES_PER_UNIT[this.units]
+                        * OpenLayers.DOTS_PER_INCH;
         if (scale >= 9500 && scale <= 950000) {
             scale = Math.round(scale / 1000) + "K";
         } else if (scale >= 950000) {
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 8c28ea4432..e30960ab0b 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -1115,3 +1115,18 @@ OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID = function(prefix) {
     }
     return prefix + Math.round(Math.random() * 10000);        
 };
+
+/** constant inches per unit */
+OpenLayers.INCHES_PER_UNIT = { // borrowed from MapServer mapscale.c
+    inches: 1.0,
+    in: 1.0,
+    ft: 12.0,
+    mi: 63360.0,
+    m: 39.3701,
+    km: 39370.1,
+    dd: 4374754,
+    degrees: 4374754,
+};
+
+/** sensible default */
+OpenLayers.DOTS_PER_INCH = 72;