diff --git a/examples/select-feature-multilayer.html b/examples/select-feature-multilayer.html
index 90c9d635af..54b00859e7 100644
--- a/examples/select-feature-multilayer.html
+++ b/examples/select-feature-multilayer.html
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
     </style>
     <script src="../lib/OpenLayers.js"></script>
     <script type="text/javascript">
-        var map, drawControls;
+        var map, selectControl;
         OpenLayers.Feature.Vector.style['default']['strokeWidth'] = '2';
         function init(){
             map = new OpenLayers.Map('map');
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
             map.addLayers([wmsLayer, vectors1, vectors2]);
             map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher());
             
-            var selectControl = new OpenLayers.Control.SelectFeature(
+            selectControl = new OpenLayers.Control.SelectFeature(
                 [vectors1, vectors2],
                 {
                     clickout: true, toggle: false,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
index 86c58ed3b3..b7b240a271 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/VML.js
@@ -881,8 +881,11 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.VML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
      * {Boolean} true if successful, false otherwise
      */
     moveRoot: function(renderer) {
-        var layer = this.map.getLayer(this.container.id);
-        layer && this.clear();
+        var layer = this.map.getLayer(renderer.container.id);
+        if(layer instanceof OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.RootContainer) {
+            layer = this.map.getLayer(this.container.id);
+        }
+        layer && layer.renderer.clear();
         OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements.prototype.moveRoot.apply(this, arguments);
         layer && layer.redraw();
     },
diff --git a/tests/Renderer/VML.html b/tests/Renderer/VML.html
index 98c3a22649..2199dcf1e2 100644
--- a/tests/Renderer/VML.html
+++ b/tests/Renderer/VML.html
@@ -387,6 +387,31 @@
         t.eq(r.dashStyle({strokeDashstyle: "4 4 1 4"}), "dashdot", "dashdot pattern recognized correctly.");
         t.eq(r.dashStyle({strokeDashstyle: "8 4 1 4"}), "longdashdot", "longdashdot pattern recognized correctly.");
     }
+    
+    function test_vml_moveRoot(t) {
+        if (!OpenLayers.Renderer.VML.prototype.supported()) {
+            t.plan(0);
+            return;
+        }
+        t.plan(2);
+        
+        var map = new OpenLayers.Map("map");
+        var l1 = new OpenLayers.Layer.Vector("vector");
+        map.addLayer(l1);
+        var l2 = new OpenLayers.Layer.Vector.RootContainer("rootcontainer", {layers: [l1]});
+        
+        var clear = l1.renderer.clear;
+        l1.renderer.clear = function() {
+            // this should be called twice, once when l2 is added to the map,
+            // and once when removed from the map.
+            t.ok(true, "Clearing original layer");
+        };
+        map.addLayer(l2);
+        map.removeLayer(l2);
+        l1.renderer.clear = clear;
+        
+        map.removeLayer(l1);
+    }
         
   </script>
 </head>