diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MousePosition.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MousePosition.js
index 4faab3b244..b0f0c007eb 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MousePosition.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MousePosition.js
@@ -130,6 +130,21 @@ OpenLayers.Control.MousePosition = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
             
         }
         
+        var newHtml = this.formatOutput(lonLat);
+
+        if (newHtml != this.element.innerHTML) {
+            this.element.innerHTML = newHtml;
+        }
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Method: formatOutput
+     * Override to provide custom display output
+     *
+     * Parameters:
+     * lonLat - {<OpenLayers.LonLat>} Location to display
+     */
+    formatOutput: function(lonLat) {
         var digits = parseInt(this.numdigits);
         var newHtml =
             this.prefix +
@@ -137,11 +152,8 @@ OpenLayers.Control.MousePosition = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
             this.separator + 
             lonLat.lat.toFixed(digits) +
             this.suffix;
-
-        if (newHtml != this.element.innerHTML) {
-            this.element.innerHTML = newHtml;
-        }
-    },
+        return newHtml;
+     },
 
     /** 
      * Method: setMap