diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js
index 04fd17a6f8..39eb4fa10f 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/Elements.js
@@ -525,12 +525,19 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer, {
         // place it. Note that this operation is O(log(n)). If there's a
         // performance problem (when dragging, for instance) this is
         // likely where it would be.
-        var insert = this.indexer ? this.indexer.insert(node) : null;
-
-        if(insert) {
-            this.root.insertBefore(node, insert);
+        if (this.indexer) {
+            var insert = this.indexer.insert(node);
+            if (insert) {
+                this.root.insertBefore(node, insert);
+            } else {
+                this.root.appendChild(node);
+            }
         } else {
-            this.root.appendChild(node);
+            // if there's no indexer, simply append the node to root,
+            // but only if the node is a new one
+            if (node.parentNode !== this.root){ 
+                this.root.appendChild(node);
+            }
         }
         
         this.postDraw(node);