diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
index 379b14c720..759376db7e 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
@@ -24,6 +24,14 @@ OpenLayers.Control.prototype = {
         Object.extend(this, options);
     },
 
+    /**
+     * 
+     */
+    destroy: function () {
+        // eliminate circular references
+        this.map = null;
+    },
+
     /** Set the map property for the control. This is done through an accessor
      *   so that subclasses can override this and take special action once 
      *   they have their map variable set. 
@@ -61,13 +69,6 @@ OpenLayers.Control.prototype = {
         }
     },
 
-    /**
-    */
-    destroy: function () {
-        // eliminate circular references
-        this.map = null;
-    },
-
     /** @final @type String */
     CLASS_NAME: "OpenLayers.Control"
 };