diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
index f4e4f1edfd..75cb6dbfe2 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ OpenLayers.Control.prototype = {
      */
     initialize: function (options) {
         Object.extend(this, options);
-        this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
     },
 
     /**
@@ -56,6 +55,9 @@ OpenLayers.Control.prototype = {
      * @type DOMElement
      */
     draw: function (px) {
+        if (this.div == null) {
+            this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
+        }
         if (px != null) {
             this.position = px.clone();
         }