diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index f250977828..1ca26c0fab 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -175,6 +175,16 @@ OpenLayers.Util.createImage = function(id, px, sz, imgURL, position, border,
 
     image = document.createElement("img");
 
+    //set generic properties
+    if (!id) {
+        id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID("OpenLayersDiv");
+    }
+    if (!position) {
+        position = "relative";
+    }
+    OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(image, id, px, sz, position, 
+                                     border, null, opacity);
+
     if(delayDisplay) {
         image.style.display = "none";
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(image, "load", 
@@ -191,15 +201,6 @@ OpenLayers.Util.createImage = function(id, px, sz, imgURL, position, border,
         image.src = imgURL;
     }
 
-    //set generic properties
-    if (!id) {
-        id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID("OpenLayersDiv");
-    }
-    if (!position) {
-        position = "relative";
-    }
-    OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(image, id, px, sz, position, 
-                                     border, null, opacity);
 
         
     return image;