diff --git a/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js b/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js
index 46bc1b7d2c..160fd04b7d 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ ol.layer.LayerProperty = {
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{brightness: number,
+ * @typedef {{layer: ol.layer.Layer,
+ *            brightness: number,
  *            contrast: number,
  *            hue: number,
  *            opacity: number,
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ ol.layer.Base.prototype.getLayerState = function() {
   var maxResolution = this.getMaxResolution();
   var minResolution = this.getMinResolution();
   return {
+    layer: /** @type {ol.layer.Layer} */ (this),
     brightness: goog.isDef(brightness) ? goog.math.clamp(brightness, -1, 1) : 0,
     contrast: goog.isDef(contrast) ? Math.max(contrast, 0) : 1,
     hue: goog.isDef(hue) ? hue : 0,
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js b/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
index 4d8f1b516c..afafb9a617 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
 
     it('provides default layerState', function() {
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: 0,
         contrast: 1,
         hue: 0,
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       expect(layer.getMinResolution()).to.be(0.25);
       expect(layer.get('foo')).to.be(42);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: 0.5,
         contrast: 10,
         hue: 180,
@@ -132,6 +134,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       layer.setMaxResolution(500);
       layer.setMinResolution(0.25);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: -0.7,
         contrast: 0.3,
         hue: -0.3,
@@ -152,6 +155,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       layer.setSaturation(-0.7);
       layer.setVisible(false);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: 1,
         contrast: 0,
         hue: 42,
@@ -170,6 +174,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       layer.setSaturation(42);
       layer.setVisible(true);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: -1,
         contrast: 42,
         hue: -100,
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js b/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js
index d3a29cfd15..20650c8bb4 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
 
     it('provides default layerState', function() {
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: 0,
         contrast: 1,
         hue: 0,
@@ -170,6 +171,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       expect(layerGroup.getMaxResolution()).to.be(500);
       expect(layerGroup.getMinResolution()).to.be(0.25);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: 0.5,
         contrast: 10,
         hue: 180,
@@ -212,6 +214,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       layerGroup.setMaxResolution(500);
       layerGroup.setMinResolution(0.25);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: -0.7,
         contrast: 0.3,
         hue: -0.3,
@@ -232,6 +235,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       layerGroup.setSaturation(-0.7);
       layerGroup.setVisible(false);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: 1,
         contrast: 0,
         hue: 42,
@@ -250,6 +254,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       layerGroup.setSaturation(42);
       layerGroup.setVisible(true);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: -1,
         contrast: 42,
         hue: -100,
@@ -345,7 +350,14 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       expect(layerStatesArray).to.be.a(Array);
       expect(layerStatesArray.length).to.be(2);
       expect(layerStatesArray[0]).to.eql(layer1.getLayerState());
-      expect(layerStatesArray[0]).to.eql(layerGroup.getLayerState());
+
+      // layer state should match except for layer reference
+      var layerState = goog.object.clone(layerStatesArray[0]);
+      delete layerState.layer;
+      var groupState = goog.object.clone(layerGroup.getLayerState());
+      delete groupState.layer;
+      expect(layerState).to.eql(groupState);
+
       expect(layerStatesArray[1]).to.eql(layer2.getLayerState());
 
       goog.dispose(layerGroup);
@@ -367,8 +379,21 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       obj = layerGroup.getLayerStatesArray();
       layersArray = obj.layers;
       layerStatesArray = obj.layerStates;
-      expect(layerStatesArray[0]).to.eql(layerGroup.getLayerState());
-      expect(layerStatesArray[1]).to.eql({
+
+      // compare layer state to group state
+      var groupState, layerState;
+
+      // layer state should match except for layer reference
+      layerState = goog.object.clone(layerStatesArray[0]);
+      delete layerState.layer;
+      groupState = goog.object.clone(layerGroup.getLayerState());
+      delete groupState.layer;
+      expect(layerState).to.eql(groupState);
+
+      // layer state should be transformed (and we ignore layer reference)
+      layerState = goog.object.clone(layerStatesArray[1]);
+      delete layerState.layer;
+      expect(layerState).to.eql({
         brightness: 1,
         contrast: 100,
         hue: 360,
@@ -392,6 +417,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
 
 goog.require('goog.dispose');
 goog.require('goog.events.EventType');
+goog.require('goog.object');
 goog.require('ol.ObjectEventType');
 goog.require('ol.layer.Layer');
 goog.require('ol.layer.Group');