diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
index 88482d953e..3e0845eb5e 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ OpenLayers.Marker = OpenLayers.Class({
             this.icon.offset = newIcon.offset;
             this.icon.calculateOffset = newIcon.calculateOffset;
         }
+        this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.icon.imageDiv, null);
     },
     
     /**
@@ -93,6 +94,9 @@ OpenLayers.Marker = OpenLayers.Class({
 
         this.map = null;
 
+        this.events.destroy();
+        this.events = null;
+
         if (this.icon != null) {
             this.icon.destroy();
             this.icon = null;
@@ -111,9 +115,6 @@ OpenLayers.Marker = OpenLayers.Class({
     * location passed-in
     */
     draw: function(px) {
-        if (!this.events) {
-            this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.icon.imageDiv, null);
-        }
         return this.icon.draw(px);
     }, 
 
@@ -125,10 +126,6 @@ OpenLayers.Marker = OpenLayers.Class({
         if (this.icon != null) {
             this.icon.erase();
         }
-        if (this.events) {
-            this.events.destroy();
-            this.events = null;
-        }
     }, 
 
     /**