diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index fa201ed675..6a386f8c25 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.prototype =
     /**
     */
     draw:function(transparent) {
-        if (transparent) {
+        if (false) { // don't actually use the alpha PNG hack right now
+                     // it has a fiercely bad effect on IE6's performance
+            // if (transparent) {
             this.imgDiv = OpenLayers.Util.createAlphaImageDiv(null,
                                                            this.position,
                                                            this.size,