diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index cd7ec67728..322b462f72 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -60,14 +60,6 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
      */
     asyncRequestId: null,
     
-    /**
-     * Property: blankImageUrl
-     * {String} Using a data scheme url is not supported by all browsers, but
-     * we don't care because we either set it as css backgroundImage, or the
-     * image's display style is set to "none" when we use it.
-     */
-    blankImageUrl: "data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAQAIBRAA7",
-
     /**
      * APIProperty: maxGetUrlLength
      * {Number} If set, requests that would result in GET urls with more
@@ -297,11 +289,9 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
         if (this.url && img.getAttribute("src") == this.url) {
             this.onImageLoad();
         } else {
-            if (img.getAttribute("src") !== this.blankImageUrl) {
-                OpenLayers.Event.stopObservingElement(img);
-                if (this.crossOriginKeyword) {
-                    img.removeAttribute("crossorigin");
-                }
+            OpenLayers.Event.stopObservingElement(img);
+            if (this.crossOriginKeyword) {
+                img.removeAttribute("crossorigin");
             }
             OpenLayers.Event.observe(img, "load",
                 OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.onImageLoad, this)
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image/IFrame.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image/IFrame.js
index f3e408e78a..84dca466ce 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image/IFrame.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image/IFrame.js
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.IFrame = {
      */ 
     useIFrame: null,
 
+    /**
+     * Property: blankImageUrl
+     * {String} Using a data scheme url is not supported by all browsers, but
+     * we don't care because we either set it as css backgroundImage, or the
+     * image's display style is set to "none" when we use it.
+     */
+    blankImageUrl: "data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAQAIBRAA7",
+
     /**
      * Method: draw
      * Set useIFrame in the instance, and operate the image/iframe switch.
@@ -65,11 +73,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.IFrame = {
                 // And if we had an iframe we also remove the event pane.
 
                 if(fromIFrame) {
-                    this.blankImageUrl = this._blankImageUrl;
                     this.frame.removeChild(this.frame.firstChild);
-                } else {
-                    this._blankImageUrl = this.blankImageUrl;
-                    this.blankImageUrl = "about:blank";
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -89,7 +93,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image.IFrame = {
                 style.width = "100%";
                 style.height = "100%";
                 style.zIndex = 1;
-                style.backgroundImage = "url(" + this._blankImageUrl + ")";
+                style.backgroundImage = "url(" + this.blankImageUrl + ")";
                 this.frame.appendChild(eventPane);
             }
 
diff --git a/tests/Tile/Image/IFrame.html b/tests/Tile/Image/IFrame.html
index 5dc3af1c94..37aa8d80db 100644
--- a/tests/Tile/Image/IFrame.html
+++ b/tests/Tile/Image/IFrame.html
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
         var eventPane = tile.frame.childNodes[0];
 
         t.ok(OpenLayers.String.contains(eventPane.style.backgroundImage,
-                    tile._blankImageUrl),
+                    tile.blankImageUrl),
              "backgroundImage of eventPane is set.");
         t.eq(parseInt(eventPane.style.zIndex, 10), 1, "zIndex of eventPane is set.");
         if(isIElt9) {