diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 6dd5e4099e..11bb77cc72 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement = function(element, id, px, sz, position,
         element.style.overflow = overflow;
     }
     if (opacity) {
-        element.style.opacity = opacity;
         element.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + (opacity * 100) + ')';
+        element.style.opacity = opacity;
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/manual/ve-opacity.html b/tests/manual/ve-opacity.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8352941add
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/manual/ve-opacity.html
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <style type="text/css">
+        #map {
+            width: 512px;
+            height: 512px;
+            border: 1px solid gray;
+        }
+    </style>
+
+    <script src='http://dev.virtualearth.net/mapcontrol/v3/mapcontrol.js'></script>
+
+    <script src="../../lib/OpenLayers.js"></script>
+    <script type="text/javascript">
+ 
+        // make map available for easy debugging
+        var map;
+
+        // avoid pink tiles
+        OpenLayers.IMAGE_RELOAD_ATTEMPTS = 3;
+        OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoadErrorColor = "transparent";
+
+        function init(){
+            var options = {
+                projection: "EPSG:900913",
+                units: "m",
+                maxResolution: 156543.0339,
+                maxExtent: new OpenLayers.Bounds(-20037508, -20037508,
+                                                 20037508, 20037508.34)
+            };
+            map = new OpenLayers.Map('map', options);
+
+            // create Virtual Earth layers
+            var veroad = new OpenLayers.Layer.VirtualEarth(
+                "Virtual Earth Raods",
+                {'type': VEMapStyle.Road, 'sphericalMercator': true}
+            ); 
+
+            // create WMS layer
+            var wms = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS(
+                "World Map",
+                "http://world.freemap.in/tiles/",
+                {'layers': 'factbook-overlay', 'format':'png'},
+                {
+                    'opacity': 0.4,
+                    'isBaseLayer': false,'wrapDateLine': true
+                }
+            );
+
+            map.addLayers([veroad, wms]);
+            map.zoomToMaxExtent()
+        }
+
+        
+    </script>
+  </head>
+  <body onload="init()">
+    <h3>VE Opacity</h3>
+    <p>The overlay should have an opacity of 40%.</p>  
+    <div id="map"></div>
+  </body>
+</html>
