diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
index 9e0cfd107f..ee82c4d6cc 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ OpenLayers.Control.MouseDefaults.prototype =
         if (evt.shiftKey) {
             this.map.div.style.cursor = "crosshair";
             this.zoomBox = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv('zoomBox');
-            this.zoomBox.style.border = '1px solid red';
+            this.zoomBox.style.border = '2px solid red';
+	    this.zoomBox.style.backgroundColor = "white";
+	    this.zoomBox.style.filter = "alpha(opacity=35)"; // IE
+	    this.zoomBox.style.opacity = "0.35";
             this.zoomBox.style.position="absolute";
             this.zoomBox.style.zIndex=1000;
             this.zoomBox.style.top=this.mouseDragStart.y;