diff --git a/src/ol/geom/circle.js b/src/ol/geom/circle.js
index aeb9f69827..1ff63e2f72 100644
--- a/src/ol/geom/circle.js
+++ b/src/ol/geom/circle.js
@@ -106,9 +106,18 @@ ol.geom.Circle.prototype.getExtent = function(opt_extent) {
  * @return {number} Radius.
  */
 ol.geom.Circle.prototype.getRadius = function() {
+  return Math.sqrt(this.getRadiusSquared_());
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * @private
+ * @return {number} Radius squared.
+ */
+ol.geom.Circle.prototype.getRadiusSquared_ = function() {
   var dx = this.flatCoordinates[this.stride] - this.flatCoordinates[0];
   var dy = this.flatCoordinates[this.stride + 1] - this.flatCoordinates[1];
-  return Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);
+  return dx * dx + dy * dy;
 };