diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Strategy/Fixed.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Strategy/Fixed.js
index 00bcfe74e6..e54e166fdc 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Strategy/Fixed.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Strategy/Fixed.js
@@ -87,13 +87,14 @@ OpenLayers.Strategy.Fixed = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Strategy, {
      * options - {Object} options to pass to protocol read.
      */
     load: function(options) {
-        this.layer.events.triggerEvent("loadstart", {filter: this.layer.filter});
-        this.layer.protocol.read(OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults({
+        var layer = this.layer;
+        layer.events.triggerEvent("loadstart", {filter: layer.filter});
+        layer.protocol.read(OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults({
             callback: this.merge,
-            filter: this.layer.filter,
+            filter: layer.filter,
             scope: this
         }, options));
-        this.layer.events.un({
+        layer.events.un({
             "visibilitychanged": this.load,
             scope: this
         });
@@ -110,7 +111,8 @@ OpenLayers.Strategy.Fixed = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Strategy, {
      *      by the protocol.
      */
     merge: function(resp) {
-        this.layer.destroyFeatures();
+        var layer = this.layer;
+        layer.destroyFeatures();
         if (resp.success()) {
             var features = resp.features;
             if (features && features.length > 0) {
@@ -125,10 +127,10 @@ OpenLayers.Strategy.Fixed = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Strategy, {
                         }
                     }
                 }
-                this.layer.addFeatures(features);
+                layer.addFeatures(features);
             }
         }
-        this.layer.events.triggerEvent("loadend", {response: resp});
+        layer.events.triggerEvent("loadend", {response: resp});
     },
 
     CLASS_NAME: "OpenLayers.Strategy.Fixed"