diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Measure.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Measure.js
index a35a2a51d9..ced97b917d 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Measure.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Measure.js
@@ -179,12 +179,14 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Measure = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
      * geometry - {<OpenLayers.Geometry>} The sketch geometry.
      */
     measurePartial: function(point, geometry) {
-        this.delayedTrigger = window.setTimeout(
-            OpenLayers.Function.bind(function() {
-                this.measure(geometry, "measurepartial");
-            }, this),
-            this.partialDelay
-        );
+        if (geometry.getLength() > 0) {
+            this.delayedTrigger = window.setTimeout(
+                OpenLayers.Function.bind(function() {
+                    this.measure(geometry, "measurepartial");
+                }, this),
+                this.partialDelay
+            );
+        }
     },
 
     /**