diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js
index c09f531bd9..edcf84db3a 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js
@@ -23,6 +23,18 @@ OpenLayers.Class = {
                 arguments[i] = new mixin(OpenLayers.Class.isPrototype);
             }
             OpenLayers.Util.extend(proto, arguments[i]);
+
+            // This is a hack for IE see
+            // http://trac.openlayers.org/attachment/ticket/552
+            // 
+            // The problem is that ie doesnt recognize toString as a property
+            //  so the util.extend() doesnt copy it over. we do it manually.
+            // 
+            // to be revisited in 3.0
+            // 
+            if (arguments[i].toString) {
+                proto.toString = arguments[i].toString;
+            }
         }
         return proto;
     }