diff --git a/examples/select-feature.html b/examples/select-feature.html
index c0cad3b457..f50b2ed930 100644
--- a/examples/select-feature.html
+++ b/examples/select-feature.html
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@
             ); 
 
             var vectors = new OpenLayers.Layer.Vector("Vector Layer");
+            vectors.events.on({
+                'featureselected': function(feature) {
+                    $('counter').innerHTML = this.selectedFeatures.length;
+                },
+                'featureunselected': function(feature) {
+                    $('counter').innerHTML = this.selectedFeatures.length;
+                },
+            });
+
             map.addLayers([wmsLayer, vectors]);
             map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher());
             
@@ -125,7 +134,7 @@
         <li>
             <input type="radio" name="type" value="select" id="selectToggle"
                    onclick="toggleControl(this);" />
-            <label for="selectToggle">select feature</label>
+            <label for="selectToggle">select feature (<span id="counter">0</span> features selected)</label>
             <ul>
                 <li>
                     <input id="box" type="checkbox" checked="checked"
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/SelectFeature.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/SelectFeature.js
index 55d79cef56..1d85523375 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/SelectFeature.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/SelectFeature.js
@@ -548,6 +548,11 @@ OpenLayers.Control.SelectFeature = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
                 layer = layers[l];
                 for(var i=0, len = layer.features.length; i<len; ++i) {
                     var feature = layer.features[i];
+                    // check if the feature is displayed
+                    if (!feature.getVisibility()) {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
                     if (this.geometryTypes == null || OpenLayers.Util.indexOf(
                             this.geometryTypes, feature.geometry.CLASS_NAME) > -1) {
                         if (bounds.toGeometry().intersects(feature.geometry)) {
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js
index 47016ce53b..0a1b7695b7 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/Vector.js
@@ -166,6 +166,27 @@ OpenLayers.Feature.Vector = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Feature, {
         }    
         return onScreen;
     },
+
+    /**
+     * Method: getVisibility
+     * Determine whether the feature is displayed or not. It may not displayed
+     *     because:
+     *     - its style display property is set to 'none',
+     *     - it doesn't belong to any layer,
+     *     - the styleMap creates a symbolizer with display property set to 'none'
+     *          for it,
+     *     - the layer which it belongs to is not visible.
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {Boolean} The feature is currently displayed.
+     */
+    getVisibility: function() {
+        return !(this.style && this.style.display == 'none' ||
+                 !this.layer ||
+                 this.layer && this.layer.styleMap &&
+                 this.layer.styleMap.createSymbolizer(this, this.renderIntent).display == 'none' ||
+                 this.layer && !this.layer.getVisibility());
+    },
     
     /**
      * Method: createMarker
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Vector.html b/tests/Feature/Vector.html
index 7ceffcc8c7..2cf0d18b26 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Vector.html
+++ b/tests/Feature/Vector.html
@@ -58,6 +58,40 @@
         
     }
     
+    function test_Feature_getVisibility(t) {
+        t.plan(5);
+        var feature = new OpenLayers.Feature.Vector();
+        feature.layer = {
+            getVisibility: function() {return true}
+        };
+
+        t.ok(feature.getVisibility(),
+             "returns true in a not specific case");
+
+        feature.style = {display: 'none'};
+        t.eq(feature.getVisibility(), false,
+             "returns false when feature style display property is set to 'none'");
+
+        feature.style = null;
+        feature.layer.styleMap = {
+            createSymbolizer: function() {
+                return {display: 'none'}
+            }
+        }
+        t.eq(feature.getVisibility(), false,
+             "returns false when layer styleMap is configured so that the feature" +
+              "should not be displayed");
+
+        delete feature.layer.styleMap;
+        feature.layer.getVisibility = function() {return false}
+        t.eq(feature.getVisibility(), false,
+             "returns false when layer it belongs to is not visible");
+        
+        feature.layer = null;
+        t.eq(feature.getVisibility(), false,
+             "returns false when it doesn't belong to any layer");
+    }
+    
     function test_Feature_Vector_clone(t) {
         t.plan(6);