diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
index 5167056de7..1f3ef19494 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.MouseWheel = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
         var overMapDiv = false;
         
         var elem = OpenLayers.Event.element(e);
-        while((elem != null) && !overMapDiv && !overScrollableDiv) {
+        while(elem && (elem.nodeType == 1) && !overMapDiv && !overScrollableDiv) {
 
             if (!overScrollableDiv) {
                 try {