diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Marker.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Marker.js
index cd859bd07a..6d366f39e9 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Marker.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Marker.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Marker.prototype =
     
     /** internal marker list
     * @type Array(OpenLayers.Marker) */
-    markers: [],
+    markers: null,
     
     /**
     * @constructor
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Marker.prototype =
     */
     initialize: function(name) {
         OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.initialize.apply(this, arguments);
+        markers = new Array();
     },
     
     /**