diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 309976a22f..dfbf1bda43 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -315,7 +315,9 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
             } else {
                 OpenLayers.Event.observe(img, "load", load);
                 OpenLayers.Event.observe(img, "error", load);
-                delete img.crossOrigin;
+                if (img.crossOrigin) {
+                    img.crossOrigin = null;
+                }
                 img.src = this.blankImageUrl;
             }
         }