diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ScaleLine.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ScaleLine.js
index 432dd66b41..f9a8c7dcc0 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ScaleLine.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ScaleLine.js
@@ -83,9 +83,6 @@ OpenLayers.Control.ScaleLine = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
     draw: function() {
         OpenLayers.Control.prototype.draw.apply(this, arguments);
         if (!this.eTop) {
-            this.div.style.display = "block";
-            this.div.style.position = "absolute";
-            
             // stick in the top bar
             this.eTop = document.createElement("div");
             this.eTop.className = this.displayClass + "Top";
diff --git a/theme/default/style.css b/theme/default/style.css
index 266c89451a..0627f0e153 100644
--- a/theme/default/style.css
+++ b/theme/default/style.css
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ div.olLayerDiv {
     font-size: smaller;
 }
 .olControlScaleLine {
+   display: block;
+   position: absolute;
    left: 10px;
    bottom: 15px;
    font-size: xx-small;