diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 25f11e2106..9e489557e1 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults = function (to, from) {
             to[key] = from[key];
         }
     }
+    return to;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/tests/test_Util.html b/tests/test_Util.html
index 48231379a2..32672fea22 100644
--- a/tests/test_Util.html
+++ b/tests/test_Util.html
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
 
     function test_06_Util_applyDefaults(t) {
     
-        t.plan(4);
+        t.plan(8);
         
         var to = { 
             'a': "abra",
@@ -161,6 +161,12 @@
         t.eq( to["a"], "abra", "key present in to but not from maintained");
         t.eq( to["b"], "blorg", "key present in to and from, maintained in to");
         t.eq( to["c"], "press", "key present in from and not to successfully copied to to");
+
+        var ret = OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults({'a': "abra",'b': "blorg"}, from);
+        t.ok( ret instanceof Object, " applyDefaults returns an object");
+        t.eq( ret["a"], "abra", "key present in ret but not from maintained");
+        t.eq( ret["b"], "blorg", "key present in ret and from, maintained in ret");
+        t.eq( ret["c"], "press", "key present in from and not ret successfully copied to ret");
     }
 
     function test_07_Util_getParameterString(t) {