diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
index cb86919235..8c8871a68c 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
@@ -215,7 +215,8 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.VML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
         style = style  || node._style;
         options = options || node._options;
         var widthFactor = 1;
-        
+        var fillColor = style.fillColor;
+
         if (node._geometryClass === "OpenLayers.Geometry.Point") {
             if (style.externalGraphic) {
         		if (style.graphicTitle) {
@@ -238,8 +239,8 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.VML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
                 node.style.height = height + "px";
                 node.style.flip = "y";
                 
-                // modify style/options for fill and stroke styling below
-                style.fillColor = "none";
+                // modify fillColor and options for stroke styling below
+                fillColor = "none"
                 options.isStroked = false;
             } else if (this.isComplexSymbol(style.graphicName)) {
                 var cache = this.importSymbol(style.graphicName);
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.VML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
 
         // fill 
         if (options.isFilled) { 
-            node.fillcolor = style.fillColor; 
+            node.fillcolor = fillColor; 
         } else { 
             node.filled = "false"; 
         }