diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
index 1d269577bf..1e752b39ba 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ OpenLayers.Events.prototype = {
      */
     destroy: function () {
         if (this.element) {
-            this.detachFromElement();
+            OpenLayers.Event.stopObservingElement(this.element);
         }
         this.element = null;
 
@@ -308,22 +308,6 @@ OpenLayers.Events.prototype = {
         // disable dragstart in IE so that mousedown/move/up works normally
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(element, "dragstart", OpenLayers.Event.stop);
     },
-    
-    /**
-     * @private
-     */
-    detachFromElement: function () {
-        for (var i = 0; i < this.BROWSER_EVENTS.length; i++) {
-            var eventType = this.BROWSER_EVENTS[i];
-
-            OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(
-                this.element, eventType, this.eventHandler);
-        }
-
-        // re-enable dragstart in IE
-        OpenLayers.Event.stopObserving(
-            this.element, "dragstart", OpenLayers.Event.stop);
-    },
 
     /**
      * @param {String} type Name of the event to register