diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js
index fef62dcefb..695f9c6cf2 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile = OpenLayers.Class({
             redraw = true;
         }
 
-        this.clear();
+        this.drawn = false;
         this.bounds = bounds.clone();
         this.position = position.clone();
         if (redraw) {
@@ -186,10 +186,10 @@ OpenLayers.Tile = OpenLayers.Class({
     /** 
      * Method: clear
      * Clear the tile of any bounds/position-related data so that it can 
-     *     be reused in a new location.
+     *     be reused in a new location. To be implemented by subclasses.
      */
     clear: function() {
-        this.drawn = false;
+        // to be implemented by subclasses
     },
     
     /**   
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index acf7c9598e..79de9f584c 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
      *   be reused in a new location.
      */
     clear: function() {
-        OpenLayers.Tile.prototype.clear.apply(this, arguments);
         if(this.imgDiv) {
             this.imgDiv.style.display = "none";
         }
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js
index 2df96555f1..12ac471c02 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.WFS = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
      *   be reused in a new location.
      */
     clear: function() {
-        OpenLayers.Tile.prototype.clear.apply(this, arguments);
         this.destroyAllFeatures();
     },