diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 6ccf1f0b25..d863d7dece 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -245,6 +245,11 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
             }
             style.visibility = "hidden";
             style.opacity = 0;
+            if (this.layer.opacity < 1) {
+                style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' +
+                               (this.layer.opacity * 100) +
+                               ')';
+            }
             style.position = "absolute";
             if (this.layerAlphaHack) {
                 // move the image out of sight
@@ -309,7 +314,6 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
         var img = this.imgDiv;
         img.style.visibility = 'hidden';
         img.style.opacity = 0;
-        img.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=0)';
         if (url) {
             img.src = url;
         }
@@ -361,7 +365,6 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
 
         img.style.visibility = 'inherit';
         img.style.opacity = this.layer.opacity;
-        img.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + (this.layer.opacity * 100) + ')';
 
         this.isLoading = false;
         this.events.triggerEvent("loadend");