diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/StyleMap.js b/lib/OpenLayers/StyleMap.js
index 17940f44a1..3a1c9ff920 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/StyleMap.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/StyleMap.js
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ OpenLayers.StyleMap = OpenLayers.Class({
     /**
      * Property: extendDefault
      * {Boolean} if true, every render intent will extend the symbolizers
-     * specified for the "default" intent. Otherwise, every rendering intent
-     * is treated as a completely independent symbolizer.
+     * specified for the "default" intent at rendering time. Otherwise, every
+     * rendering intent will be treated as a completely independent style.
      */
     extendDefault: true,
     
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ OpenLayers.StyleMap = OpenLayers.Class({
      * Parameters:
      * style   - {Object} Optional. Either a style hash, or a style object, or
      *           a hash of style objects (style hashes) keyed by rendering
-     *           intent
+     *           intent. If just one style hash or style object is passed,
+     *           this will be used for all known render intents (default,
+     *           select, temporary)
      * options - {Object} optional hash of additional options for this
      *           instance
      */
@@ -52,6 +54,8 @@ OpenLayers.StyleMap = OpenLayers.Class({
         if(style instanceof OpenLayers.Style) {
             // user passed a style object
             this.styles["default"] = style;
+            this.styles["select"] = style;
+            this.styles["temporary"] = style;
         } else if(typeof style == "object") {
             for(var key in style) {
                 if(style[key] instanceof OpenLayers.Style) {
@@ -63,6 +67,8 @@ OpenLayers.StyleMap = OpenLayers.Class({
                 } else {
                     // user passed a style hash (i.e. symbolizer)
                     this.styles["default"] = new OpenLayers.Style(style);
+                    this.styles["select"] = new OpenLayers.Style(style);
+                    this.styles["temporary"] = new OpenLayers.Style(style);
                     break;
                 }
             }