diff --git a/src/ol/source/xyz.js b/src/ol/source/xyz.js
index b79871a676..f1ed03cc3b 100644
--- a/src/ol/source/xyz.js
+++ b/src/ol/source/xyz.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ goog.require('ol.tilegrid.XYZ');
  *            crossOrigin: (string|undefined),
  *            extent: (ol.Extent|undefined),
  *            maxZoom: number,
+ *            projection: (ol.Projection|undefined),
  *            tileUrlFunction: (ol.TileUrlFunctionType|undefined),
  *            url: (string|undefined),
  *            urls: (Array.<string>|undefined)}}
@@ -35,6 +36,9 @@ ol.source.XYZOptions;
  */
 ol.source.XYZ = function(xyzOptions) {
 
+  var projection = xyzOptions.projection ||
+      ol.Projection.getFromCode('EPSG:3857');
+
   /**
    * @type {ol.TileUrlFunctionType}
    */
@@ -100,7 +104,7 @@ ol.source.XYZ = function(xyzOptions) {
     attributions: xyzOptions.attributions,
     crossOrigin: xyzOptions.crossOrigin,
     extent: xyzOptions.extent,
-    projection: ol.Projection.getFromCode('EPSG:3857'),
+    projection: projection,
     tileGrid: tileGrid,
     tileUrlFunction: tileUrlFunction
   });