diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js
index 2b31ca29c3..8c9383ced1 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ OpenLayers.Element = {
 
     /**
      * APIFunction: getDimensions
+     * *Deprecated*. Returns dimensions of the element passed in.
      *  
      * Parameters:
      * element - {DOMElement}
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
index 971cbbc1dc..7053050950 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
@@ -1402,11 +1402,9 @@ OpenLayers.Map = OpenLayers.Class({
         var size = new OpenLayers.Size(this.div.clientWidth, 
                                        this.div.clientHeight);
 
-        // Workaround for the fact that hidden elements return 0 for size.
         if (size.w == 0 && size.h == 0 || isNaN(size.w) && isNaN(size.h)) {
-            var dim = OpenLayers.Element.getDimensions(this.div);
-            size.w = dim.width;
-            size.h = dim.height;
+            size.w = this.div.offsetWidth;
+            size.h = this.div.offsetHeight;
         }
         if (size.w == 0 && size.h == 0 || isNaN(size.w) && isNaN(size.h)) {
             size.w = parseInt(this.div.style.width);
diff --git a/tests/BaseTypes/Element.html b/tests/BaseTypes/Element.html
index 8a5a1abc40..ddc95b7b24 100644
--- a/tests/BaseTypes/Element.html
+++ b/tests/BaseTypes/Element.html
@@ -110,37 +110,6 @@
         t.ok(OpenLayers.Element.getHeight(elem) == elem.offsetHeight, "offsetHeight returned");
     }
     
-    function test_Element_getDimensions(t) {
-        if (!t.open_window) { 
-            t.plan(0);
-            return;
-        } else {    
-            t.plan(4);
-        }    
-        
-      //shown
-        t.open_window( "BaseTypes/Element.html", function( wnd ) {
-            t.delay_call(3, function() {
-                var elem = wnd.document.getElementById("elemID");
-
-                var dims = OpenLayers.Element.getDimensions(elem);
-                t.eq(dims.width, 50, "width correct when displayed");
-                t.eq(dims.height, 100, "height correct when displayed")
-      
-                elem.style.display = "none";
-                dims = OpenLayers.Element.getDimensions(elem);
-                t.eq(dims.width, 50, "width correct when hidden");
-                t.eq(dims.height, 100, "height correct when hidden")
-      
-
-            });
-        });      
-      
-      //hidden
-        
-
-    }    
-
     function test_hasClass(t) {        
         t.plan(14);
         var has = OpenLayers.Element.hasClass;