diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 5741855b79..22a25b28c3 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile.BackBufferable, {
             style.width = "100%";
             style.height = "100%";
         }
+        style.display = "none";
         if (this.layer.opacity < 1) {
             OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(img, null, null, null, null, null,
                 null, this.layer.opacity);