diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Text.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Text.js
index 1331c1adcf..b2acc1b647 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Text.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Text.js
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Text = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Layer.Markers, {
         }    
         
         var parser = new OpenLayers.Format.Text(options);
-        features = parser.read(text);
+        var features = parser.read(text);
         for (var i=0, len=features.length; i<len; i++) {
             var data = {};
             var feature = features[i];