diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 68c38b95d1..85492107b0 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
             this.imgDiv = document.createElement("img");
 
             this.imgDiv.className = "olTileImage";
+            this.imgDiv.style.position = "absolute";
             // avoid image gallery menu in IE6
             this.imgDiv.galleryImg = "no";
 
@@ -239,13 +240,11 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
                 style.top = -top + "%";
                 style.width = (2 * left + 100) + "%";
                 style.height = (2 * top + 100) + "%";
-                style.position = "absolute";
             } else {
                 style.width = "100%";
                 style.height = "100%";
             }
             style.display = "none";
-            style.position = "absolute";
             if (this.layer.opacity < 1) {
                 OpenLayers.Util.modifyDOMElement(this.imgDiv, null, null, 
                                                  null, null, null, null,