diff --git a/examples/spherical-mercator.html b/examples/spherical-mercator.html
index 309456b3fa..efd304a7f4 100644
--- a/examples/spherical-mercator.html
+++ b/examples/spherical-mercator.html
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@
             map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.EditingToolbar(vector));
             map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.Permalink());
             map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.MousePosition());
-            map.zoomToMaxExtent()
+            if (!map.getCenter()) {map.zoomToMaxExtent()}
         }
 
         function osm_getTileURL(bounds) {