diff --git a/examples/gutter.html b/examples/gutter.html
index 2c29aa79de..9c5772dbac 100644
--- a/examples/gutter.html
+++ b/examples/gutter.html
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ <h1 id="title">Gutter Example</h1>
   <script type="text/javascript">
       var map = new OpenLayers.Map('map');
       var states15 = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS( "States (15px gutter)",
-          "http://suite.opengeo.org/geoserver/wms",
-          {layers: 'usa:states'},
+          "http://demo.boundlessgeo.com/geoserver/wms",
+          {layers: 'topp:states'},
           {gutter: 15, transitionEffect: "resize"});
       var states = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS( "States (no gutter)",
-          "http://suite.opengeo.org/geoserver/wms",
-          {layers: 'usa:states'});
+          "http://demo.boundlessgeo.com/geoserver/wms",
+          {layers: 'topp:states'});
       map.addLayers([states, states15]);
       map.addControl(new OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher());
       map.setCenter(new OpenLayers.LonLat(-71.848, 42.2), 5);
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
index 0f0eb25667..a5b8773a32 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
@@ -297,9 +297,11 @@ OpenLayers.Event = {
      */
     stopObservingElement: function(elementParam) {
         var element = OpenLayers.Util.getElement(elementParam);
-        var cacheID = element._eventCacheID;
+        if (element && element._eventCacheID) {
+            var cacheID = element._eventCacheID;
 
-        this._removeElementObservers(OpenLayers.Event.observers[cacheID]);
+            this._removeElementObservers(OpenLayers.Event.observers[cacheID]);
+        }
     },
 
     /**