diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index fe6e0b6605..e3c412a8ed 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
             if (img.getAttribute("src") == this.blankImageUrl) {
                 load();
             } else {
+                OpenLayers.Event.stopObservingElement(img);
                 OpenLayers.Event.observe(img, "load", load);
                 OpenLayers.Event.observe(img, "error", load);
                 if (this.crossOriginKeyword) {