diff --git a/src/objectliterals.jsdoc b/src/objectliterals.jsdoc
index 38faf10f22..bd8b80ab45 100644
--- a/src/objectliterals.jsdoc
+++ b/src/objectliterals.jsdoc
@@ -367,7 +367,6 @@
  * @property {number|undefined} opacity Opacity. 0-1. Default is 1.
  * @property {ol.source.Source} source Source for this layer.
  * @property {ol.style.Style|undefined} style Style.
- * @property {boolean|undefined} temp True for temporary layers. For internal use only.
  * @property {boolean|undefined} visible Visibility. Default is true (visible).
  */
 
diff --git a/src/ol/control/selectcontrol.js b/src/ol/control/selectcontrol.js
index db4bcf8968..c9e7e4d37c 100644
--- a/src/ol/control/selectcontrol.js
+++ b/src/ol/control/selectcontrol.js
@@ -94,11 +94,12 @@ ol.control.Select.prototype.createSelectionLayers_ = function() {
   this.selectionLayers = [];
   for (var i = 0, ii = this.layers_.length; i < ii; ++i) {
     this.featureMap_.push({});
-    this.selectionLayers.push(new ol.layer.Vector({
+    var selectionLayer = new ol.layer.Vector({
       source: new ol.source.Vector({parser: null}),
-      style: this.layers_[i].getStyle(),
-      temp: true
-    }));
+      style: this.layers_[i].getStyle()
+    });
+    selectionLayer.setTemporary(true);
+    this.selectionLayers.push(selectionLayer);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js b/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js
index fe010c7e18..ef2a3542a2 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/vectorlayer.js
@@ -303,8 +303,9 @@ ol.layer.Vector = function(options) {
   /**
    * True if this is a temporary layer.
    * @type {boolean}
+   * @private
    */
-  this.temp = goog.isDef(options.temp) ? options.temp : false;
+  this.temp_ = false;
 
 };
 goog.inherits(ol.layer.Vector, ol.layer.Layer);
@@ -343,6 +344,14 @@ ol.layer.Vector.prototype.clear = function() {
 };
 
 
+/**
+ * @return {boolean} Whether this layer is temporary.
+ */
+ol.layer.Vector.prototype.getTemporary = function() {
+  return this.temp_;
+};
+
+
 /**
  * @return {ol.source.Vector} Source.
  */
@@ -604,6 +613,14 @@ ol.layer.Vector.prototype.setRenderIntent = function(renderIntent, features) {
 };
 
 
+/**
+ * @param {boolean} temp Whether this layer is temporary.
+ */
+ol.layer.Vector.prototype.setTemporary = function(temp) {
+  this.temp_ = temp;
+};
+
+
 /**
  * @param {Array.<ol.Feature>} features Features.
  * @return {string} Feature info.
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/control/selectcontrol.test.js b/test/spec/ol/control/selectcontrol.test.js
index 58aa476bf4..870f938b8b 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/control/selectcontrol.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/control/selectcontrol.test.js
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ describe('ol.control.Select', function() {
       expect(map.getLayers().getLength()).to.be(0);
       select.activate();
       expect(map.getLayers().getLength()).to.be(1);
-      expect(map.getLayers().getAt(0).temp).to.be(true);
+      expect(map.getLayers().getAt(0).getTemporary()).to.be(true);
       select.deactivate();
       expect(map.getLayers().getLength()).to.be(0);
     });