diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js
index 0bf4259fc1..ee149f540b 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js
@@ -59,10 +59,12 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.HTTPRequest.prototype =
                                                    this.options);
         }
         
+        //get all additions from superclasses
+        obj = OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.clone.apply(this, [obj]);
+
         // copy/set any non-init, non-simple values here
         
-        //get all additions from superclasses
-        return OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.clone.apply(this, [obj]);
+        return obj;
     },
 
     /**