diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
index 82f4beb2a1..9f4b13a965 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
@@ -786,10 +786,15 @@ OpenLayers.Events = OpenLayers.Class({
      * evt - {Event} 
      */
     handleBrowserEvent: function (evt) {
+        var type = evt.type, listeners = this.listeners[type];
+        if(!listeners || listeners.length == 0) {
+            // none's listening, bail out
+            return;
+        }
         if (this.includeXY) {
             evt.xy = this.getMousePosition(evt);
         } 
-        this.triggerEvent(evt.type, evt);
+        this.triggerEvent(type, evt);
     },
 
     /**