diff --git a/src/ol/layer/Base.js b/src/ol/layer/Base.js
index 2cc30365c5..a8ce09d3fe 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/Base.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/Base.js
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ import {assign} from '../obj.js';
  * @property {boolean} [visible=true] Visibility.
  * @property {module:ol/extent~Extent} [extent] The bounding extent for layer rendering.  The layer will not be
  * rendered outside of this extent.
- * @property {number} [zIndex=0] The z-index for layer rendering.  At rendering time, the layers
- * will be ordered, first by Z-index and then by position.
+ * @property {number} [zIndex] The z-index for layer rendering.  At rendering time, the layers
+ * will be ordered, first by Z-index and then by position. When undefined, a zIndex of 0 is assumed.
  * @property {number} [minResolution] The minimum resolution (inclusive) at which this layer will be
  * visible.
  * @property {number} [maxResolution] The maximum resolution (exclusive) below which this layer will
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ class BaseLayer extends BaseObject {
        options.opacity !== undefined ? options.opacity : 1;
     properties[LayerProperty.VISIBLE] =
        options.visible !== undefined ? options.visible : true;
-    properties[LayerProperty.Z_INDEX] =
-       options.zIndex !== undefined ? options.zIndex : 0;
+    properties[LayerProperty.Z_INDEX] = options.zIndex;
     properties[LayerProperty.MAX_RESOLUTION] =
        options.maxResolution !== undefined ? options.maxResolution : Infinity;
     properties[LayerProperty.MIN_RESOLUTION] =
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ class BaseLayer extends BaseObject {
     this.state_.sourceState = this.getSourceState();
     this.state_.visible = this.getVisible();
     this.state_.extent = this.getExtent();
-    this.state_.zIndex = this.getZIndex();
+    this.state_.zIndex = this.getZIndex() || 0;
     this.state_.maxResolution = this.getMaxResolution();
     this.state_.minResolution = Math.max(this.getMinResolution(), 0);
 
diff --git a/src/ol/layer/Layer.js b/src/ol/layer/Layer.js
index 9d361818f1..ceb8c186b3 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/Layer.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/Layer.js
@@ -191,7 +191,9 @@ class Layer extends BaseLayer {
       this.mapPrecomposeKey_ = listen(map, RenderEventType.PRECOMPOSE, function(evt) {
         const layerState = this.getLayerState();
         layerState.managed = false;
-        layerState.zIndex = Infinity;
+        if (this.getZIndex() === undefined) {
+          layerState.zIndex = Infinity;
+        }
         evt.frameState.layerStatesArray.push(layerState);
         evt.frameState.layerStates[getUid(this)] = layerState;
       }, this);
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js b/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
index 807531e8e2..ff3aeb97a5 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
@@ -434,6 +434,41 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
 
     });
 
+    describe('zIndex for unmanaged layers', function() {
+
+      let frameState, layer;
+
+      beforeEach(function() {
+        layer = new Layer({
+          map: map
+        });
+        frameState = {
+          layerStatesArray: [],
+          layerStates: {}
+        };
+      });
+
+      afterEach(function() {
+        layer.setMap(null);
+      });
+
+      it('has Infinity as zIndex when not configured otherwise', function() {
+        map.dispatchEvent(new RenderEvent('precompose', null,
+          frameState, null, null));
+        const layerState = frameState.layerStatesArray[0];
+        expect(layerState.zIndex).to.be(Infinity);
+      });
+
+      it('respects the configured zIndex', function() {
+        layer.setZIndex(42);
+        map.dispatchEvent(new RenderEvent('precompose', null,
+          frameState, null, null));
+        const layerState = frameState.layerStatesArray[0];
+        expect(layerState.zIndex).to.be(42);
+      });
+
+    });
+
   });
 
 });