diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js
index f9d528b9d9..4634ef2ad7 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js
@@ -66,8 +66,10 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WMS.Untiled.prototype =
      * 
      */
     destroy: function() {
-        this.tile.destroy();
-        this.tile = null;    
+        if (this.tile) {
+          this.tile.destroy();
+          this.tile = null;    
+        }
         OpenLayers.Layer.HTTPRequest.prototype.destroy.apply(this, arguments);
     },