diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
index 0f45a01b79..e0b93b25da 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Box.js
@@ -84,16 +84,14 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Box = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
     * Method: moveBox
     */
     moveBox: function (xy) {
-        var deltaX = Math.abs(this.dragHandler.start.x - xy.x);
-        var deltaY = Math.abs(this.dragHandler.start.y - xy.y);
+        var startX = this.dragHandler.start.x;
+        var startY = this.dragHandler.start.y;
+        var deltaX = Math.abs(startX - xy.x);
+        var deltaY = Math.abs(startY - xy.y);
         this.zoomBox.style.width = Math.max(1, deltaX) + "px";
         this.zoomBox.style.height = Math.max(1, deltaY) + "px";
-        if (xy.x < this.dragHandler.start.x) {
-            this.zoomBox.style.left = xy.x+"px";
-        }
-        if (xy.y < this.dragHandler.start.y) {
-            this.zoomBox.style.top = xy.y+"px";
-        }
+        this.zoomBox.style.left = xy.x < startX ? xy.x+"px" : startX+"px";
+        this.zoomBox.style.top = xy.y < startY ? xy.y+"px" : startY+"px";
     },
 
     /**