diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
index 937c8edb46..62d13d5e0b 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control.js
@@ -165,8 +165,10 @@ OpenLayers.Control = OpenLayers.Class({
      * to prevent memory leaks.
      */
     destroy: function () {
-        this.events.destroy();
-        this.events = null;
+        if(this.events) {
+            this.events.destroy();
+            this.events = null;
+        }
         // eliminate circular references
         if (this.handler) {
             this.handler.destroy();