diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 96a2a0f235..f8bd639bcf 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.prototype =
     },
 
     destroy: function() {
-        if ((this.img) && (this.img.parentNode == this.layer.div)) {
+        if ((this.img != null) && (this.img.parentNode == this.layer.div)) {
             this.layer.div.removeChild(this.img);
         }
         this.img = null;