diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
index 3ce70f9b03..8273ca3407 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
@@ -531,8 +531,12 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
      * @type String
      */
     getProjection: function() {
-        var projection = this.baseLayer.getProjection();
-
+        var projection = null;
+        
+        if (this.baseLayer != null) {
+            projection = this.baseLayer.getProjection();
+        }
+        
         if (projection == null) {
             projection = this.projection;
         }
@@ -545,7 +549,11 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
      * @type String
      */
     getMaxResolution: function() {
-        var maxResolution = this.baseLayer.getMaxResolution();
+        var maxResolution = null
+        
+        if (this.baseLayer != null) {
+            maxResolution = this.baseLayer.getMaxResolution();
+        }
 
         if (maxResolution == null) {
             maxResolution = this.maxResolution;
@@ -558,12 +566,16 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
     * @type OpenLayers.Bounds
     */
     getMaxExtent: function () {
-        var maxExtent = this.baseLayer.getMaxExtent();
+        var maxExtent = null;
+        
+        if (this.baseLayer != null) {
+            maxExtent = this.baseLayer.getMaxExtent();
+        }
     
         if (maxExtent == null) {
             maxExtent = this.maxExtent;
         }
-    
+        
         return maxExtent;
     },
     
@@ -572,10 +584,16 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
      * @type int
      */
     getMaxZoomLevel: function() {
-        var maxZoomLevel = this.baseLayer.getMaxZoomLevel();
+        var maxZoomLevel = null;
+        
+        if (this.baseLayer != null) {
+            maxZoomLevel = this.baseLayer.getMaxZoomLevel();
+        }
+
         if (maxZoomLevel == null) {
             maxZoomLevel = this.maxZoomLevel;
         }
+        
         return maxZoomLevel;
     },
 
@@ -584,10 +602,16 @@ OpenLayers.Map.prototype = {
      * @type int
      */
     getMinZoomLevel: function() {
-        var minZoomLevel = this.baseLayer.getMinZoomLevel();
+        var minZoomLevel = null;
+        
+        if (this.baseLayer != null) {
+            minZoomLevel = this.baseLayer.getMinZoomLevel();
+        }
+        
         if (minZoomLevel == null) {
             minZoomLevel = this.minZoomLevel;
         }
+        
         return minZoomLevel;
     },