diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Canvas.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Canvas.js
index 35939afdd2..199ca8f10d 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Canvas.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Canvas.js
@@ -787,6 +787,10 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.Canvas = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer, {
      */
     getFeatureIdFromEvent: function(evt) {
         var featureId, feature;
+        
+        // if the drawing canvas isn't visible, return undefined.
+        if (this.root.style.display === "none") return feature;
+        
         if (this.hitDetection) {
             // this dragging check should go in the feature handler
             if (!this.map.dragging) {