diff --git a/src/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.js b/src/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.js
index f7cbc9d393..136165e526 100644
--- a/src/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.js
+++ b/src/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.js
@@ -220,10 +220,14 @@ ol.renderer.TileLayerRenderer.prototype.pruneUnrenderedTiles_ = function(newBoun
 };
 
 
-/** @inheritDoc */
-ol.renderer.TileLayerRenderer.prototype.getType = function() {
+/**
+ * Get an identifying string for this renderer.
+ *
+ * @returns {string}
+ */
+ol.renderer.TileLayerRenderer.getType = function() {
     // TODO: revisit
-    return "img";
+    return "tile";
 };
 
 /** 
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.test.js b/test/spec/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.test.js
index 45a1685b30..e9ca5e491a 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/renderer/TileLayerRenderer.test.js
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ describe("ol.renderer.TileLayerRenderer", function() {
         var layer = new ol.layer.Layer();
         expect(ol.renderer.TileLayerRenderer.canRender(layer)).toBe(false);
     });
+
+    it("returns a string type", function() {
+        expect(ol.renderer.TileLayerRenderer.getType()).toBe("tile");
+    });
     
     describe("getPreferredResAndZ_", function() {
         var layer = new ol.layer.TileLayer();