diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js
index 8b1d4e17a3..e5c6786977 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 /**
  * @requires OpenLayers/Control.js
  * @requires OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js
+ * @requires OpenLayers/Events.js
  */
 
 /**
@@ -76,14 +77,15 @@ OpenLayers.Control.KeyboardDefaults = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
     defaultKeyPress: function (evt) {
         var size, handled = true;
 
-        if((typeof evt.target) != 'undefined' &&
-            (evt.target.tagName == 'INPUT' ||
-             evt.target.tagName == 'TEXTAREA' ||
-             evt.target.tagName == 'SELECT')) {
+        var target = OpenLayers.Event.element(evt);
+        if (target  &&
+            (target.tagName == 'INPUT' ||
+             target.tagName == 'TEXTAREA' ||
+             target.tagName == 'SELECT')) {
             return;
         }
 
-        switch(evt.keyCode) {
+        switch (evt.keyCode) {
             case OpenLayers.Event.KEY_LEFT:
                 this.map.pan(-this.slideFactor, 0);
                 break;