diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Google.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Google.js
index f2f4ef0f06..a491086c1a 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Google.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Google.js
@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Google.prototype = Object.extend( new OpenLayers.Layer(), {
         }
     },
     
+    /**
+     * 
+     */
+    destroy: function() {
+        this.gmap = null;
+        OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.destroy.apply(this, arguments); 
+    },
+
      /** 
      * @param {OpenLayers.Map} map
      */