diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
index 11f69950bc..68b4ccfd28 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
@@ -483,9 +483,12 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
         control.setMap(this);
         var div = control.draw(px);
         if (div) {
-            div.style.zIndex = this.Z_INDEX_BASE['Control'] +
-                                this.controls.length;
-            this.viewPortDiv.appendChild( div );
+            // only elements without parents should be appended to the viewport
+            if(!div.parentNode) {
+                div.style.zIndex = this.Z_INDEX_BASE['Control'] +
+                                    this.controls.length;
+                this.viewPortDiv.appendChild( div );
+            }
         }
     },