diff --git a/lib/deprecated.js b/lib/deprecated.js
index 0cc3c1b6aa..a389dc7b62 100644
--- a/lib/deprecated.js
+++ b/lib/deprecated.js
@@ -164,6 +164,17 @@ OpenLayers.Util.getArgs = function(url) {
     return OpenLayers.Util.getParameters(url);
 };
 
+/** 
+ * Maintain existing definition of $.
+ * 
+ * The use of our $-method is deprecated and the mapping of 
+ * OpenLayers.Util.getElement will eventually be removed. Do not depend on 
+ * window.$ being defined by OpenLayers.
+ */
+if(typeof window.$  === "undefined") {
+    window.$ = OpenLayers.Util.getElement;
+}
+
 /**
  * Namespace: OpenLayers.Ajax
  */