diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js
index cfd7f173c9..91852d61fa 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js
@@ -47,8 +47,10 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WMS.prototype =
                            OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(this.DEFAULT_PARAMS)
                            );
         }
-        
-        this.isBaseLayer = (this.params.TRANSPARENT != "true" && this.params.TRANSPARENT != true);
+
+        // if the layer is transparent, it will be an overlay        
+        this.isBaseLayer = ((this.params.TRANSPARENT != "true") && 
+                            (this.params.TRANSPARENT != true));
     },    
 
     /**
@@ -124,7 +126,8 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WMS.prototype =
     mergeNewParams:function(params) {
         var upperParams = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
         var newArguments = [upperParams];
-        OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype.mergeNewParams.apply(this, newArguments);
+        OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype.mergeNewParams.apply(this, 
+                                                             newArguments);
 
         if (this.map != null) {
             this._initTiles();