diff --git a/src/ol/format/geojsonformat.js b/src/ol/format/geojsonformat.js
index d703970609..b9f3b59886 100644
--- a/src/ol/format/geojsonformat.js
+++ b/src/ol/format/geojsonformat.js
@@ -153,6 +153,19 @@ ol.format.GeoJSON.writeGeometry_ = function(geometry) {
 };
 
 
+/**
+ * @param {ol.geom.Geometry} geometry Geometry.
+ * @private
+ * @return {GeoJSONGeometryCollection} Empty GeoJSON geometry collection.
+ */
+ol.format.GeoJSON.writeEmptyGeometryCollectionGeometry_ = function(geometry) {
+  return /** @type {GeoJSONGeometryCollection} */ ({
+    'type': 'GeometryCollection',
+    'geometries': []
+  });
+};
+
+
 /**
  * @param {ol.geom.Geometry} geometry Geometry.
  * @private
@@ -283,7 +296,8 @@ ol.format.GeoJSON.GEOMETRY_WRITERS_ = {
   'MultiPoint': ol.format.GeoJSON.writeMultiPointGeometry_,
   'MultiLineString': ol.format.GeoJSON.writeMultiLineStringGeometry_,
   'MultiPolygon': ol.format.GeoJSON.writeMultiPolygonGeometry_,
-  'GeometryCollection': ol.format.GeoJSON.writeGeometryCollectionGeometry_
+  'GeometryCollection': ol.format.GeoJSON.writeGeometryCollectionGeometry_,
+  'Circle': ol.format.GeoJSON.writeEmptyGeometryCollectionGeometry_
 };
 
 
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/format/geojsonformat.test.js b/test/spec/ol/format/geojsonformat.test.js
index a6792d834f..d9248b6661 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/format/geojsonformat.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/format/geojsonformat.test.js
@@ -458,6 +458,16 @@ describe('ol.format.GeoJSON', function() {
         expect(geometries[i].getCoordinates()).
             to.eql(gotGeometries[i].getCoordinates());
       }
+
+    });
+
+    it('encodes a circle as an empty geometry collection', function() {
+      var circle = new ol.geom.Circle([0, 0], 1);
+      var geojson = format.writeGeometry(circle);
+      expect(geojson).to.eql({
+        'type': 'GeometryCollection',
+        'geometries': []
+      });
     });
 
   });
@@ -468,6 +478,7 @@ describe('ol.format.GeoJSON', function() {
 goog.require('ol.Feature');
 goog.require('ol.extent');
 goog.require('ol.format.GeoJSON');
+goog.require('ol.geom.Circle');
 goog.require('ol.geom.GeometryCollection');
 goog.require('ol.geom.LineString');
 goog.require('ol.geom.LinearRing');