diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index 714bb4b9c4..686dc83426 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -182,6 +182,9 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
           'minExtent', 'maxExtent',
           'numZoomLevels'
         );
+        if (this.map.maxZoomLevel && !this.numZoomLevels) {
+            this.numZoomLevels = this.map.maxZoomLevel + 1;
+        }
         for(var i=0; i < properties.length; i++) {
             if (this[properties[i]] == null) {
                 this[properties[i]] = this.map[properties[i]];