diff --git a/examples/vector-features.html b/examples/vector-features.html
index 743cd40d09..2df77e7a21 100644
--- a/examples/vector-features.html
+++ b/examples/vector-features.html
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
     Shows the use of the shows drawing simple vector features, in different styles.
 </p>
 <div style="text-align: right">
-    <div id="map" class="smallmap"></div>
+    <div dir="rtl" id="map" class="smallmap"></div>
 </div>
 <div id="docs">
     <p>This example shows drawing simple vector features -- point, line, polygon
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index e555509c92..c588e5608d 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer = OpenLayers.Class({
             this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv(this.id);
             this.div.style.width = "100%";
             this.div.style.height = "100%";
+            this.div.dir = "ltr";
 
             this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.div, 
                                                 this.EVENT_TYPES);