diff --git a/src/ol/control/control.js b/src/ol/control/control.js
index 73ce0e112e..ead9a74b8e 100644
--- a/src/ol/control/control.js
+++ b/src/ol/control/control.js
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ ol.control.Control = function(options) {
    * @private
    * @type {Element}
    */
-  this.target_ = goog.isDef(options.target) ?
-      goog.dom.getElement(options.target) : null;
+  this.target_ = null;
 
   /**
    * @private
@@ -71,6 +70,10 @@ ol.control.Control = function(options) {
    */
   this.render = goog.isDef(options.render) ? options.render : goog.nullFunction;
 
+  if (goog.isDef(options.target)) {
+    this.setTarget(options.target);
+  }
+
 };
 goog.inherits(ol.control.Control, ol.Object);
 
@@ -121,3 +124,17 @@ ol.control.Control.prototype.setMap = function(map) {
     map.render();
   }
 };
+
+
+/**
+ * This function is used to set a target element for the control. It has no
+ * effect if it is called after the control has been added to the map (i.e.
+ * after `setMap` is called on the control). If no `target` is set in the
+ * options passed to the control constructor and if `setTarget` is not called
+ * then the control is added to the map's overlay container.
+ * @param {Element|string} target Target.
+ * @api
+ */
+ol.control.Control.prototype.setTarget = function(target) {
+  this.target_ = goog.dom.getElement(target);
+};