diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
index fcf3b04e54..c0d83c32bf 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@ OpenLayers.Marker.prototype = {
         this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.icon.imageDiv, null);
     },
     
+    destroy: function() {
+        this.map = null;
+        
+        // code to remove HTMLImage will go here
+        //  I realize now that it was not a good 
+        //  idea to give OpenLayers.Icon the 
+        //  'imageDiv' property.. that should be 
+        //  here. This is on my hot-list to fix
+    },
+    
     /** 
     * @param {OpenLayers.Pixel} px
     *