diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
index 5d5dac3b3f..2abcdcd558 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
@@ -46,9 +46,8 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.MouseWheel = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
      * Method: destroy
      */    
     destroy: function() {
-        this.deactivate();
-        this.wheelListener = null;
         OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.destroy.apply(this, arguments);
+        this.wheelListener = null;
     },
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/Handler/test_MouseWheel.html b/tests/Handler/test_MouseWheel.html
index 2137ab5953..be5187f7f0 100644
--- a/tests/Handler/test_MouseWheel.html
+++ b/tests/Handler/test_MouseWheel.html
@@ -117,6 +117,15 @@
         t.ok(deactivated,
              "deactivate returns true if the handler was active already");
     }
+    function test_handler_MouseWheel_destroy(t) {
+        t.plan(1);
+        var control = new OpenLayers.Control();
+        var handler = new OpenLayers.Handler.MouseWheel(control);
+        handler.deactivate = function() { 
+            t.ok(true, "Deactivate called one time.");
+        }    
+        handler.destroy();
+    }
 
 
   </script>