diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 1fa9ba69ec..686a04fb8e 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.prototype =
     },
 
     destroy: function() {
-        this.layer.div.removeChild(this.img);
+        if (this.img.parentNode == this.layer.div) {
+            this.layer.div.removeChild(this.img);
+        }
         this.img = null;
     },