diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Feature.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Feature.js
index 0ad6f6022d..00388efe96 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Feature.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Feature.js
@@ -153,7 +153,9 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Feature = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
      */
     deactivate: function() {
         if(OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments)) {
-            this.layer.div.style.zIndex = this.layerIndex;
+            if (this.layer && this.layer.div) {
+                this.layer.div.style.zIndex = this.layerIndex;
+            }    
             return true;
         } else {
             return false;