diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
index 1395173a76..d1dec79ebe 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
         // the layerContainerDiv is the one that holds all the layers
         id = div.id + "_OpenLayers_Container";
         this.layerContainerDiv = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv(id);
+        this.layerContainerDiv.style.zIndex=this.Z_INDEX_BASE['Popup']-1;
+        
         this.viewPortDiv.appendChild(this.layerContainerDiv);
 
         this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, div, this.EVENT_TYPES);