diff --git a/img/blank.gif b/img/blank.gif
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4bcc753a12
Binary files /dev/null and b/img/blank.gif differ
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js
index 88460ad3df..24cf56079f 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.EventPane.prototype =
         if (arguments.length > 0) {
             if (this.pane == null) {
                 this.pane = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
-                this.pane.style.width = "100%";
-                this.pane.style.height = "100%";
-                this.pane.style.backgroundColor = "transparent";
             }
         }
     },
@@ -52,9 +49,15 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.EventPane.prototype =
      */
     setMap: function(map) {
         OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.setMap.apply(this, arguments);
-
+        
         this.pane.style.zIndex = parseInt(this.div.style.zIndex) + 1;
         this.pane.style.display = this.div.style.display;
+        this.pane.style.width="100%";
+        this.pane.style.height="100%";
+        if (/MSIE/.test(navigator.userAgent)) {
+          this.pane.style.background = "url("+OpenLayers.Util.getImagesLocation()+"blank.gif)";
+        }
+
         if (this.isFixed) {
             this.map.viewPortDiv.appendChild(this.pane);
         } else {