diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
index 20a3b8f2ad..05cf7500b8 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher.prototype =
                 inputElem.defaultChecked = checked;
                 inputElem.layer = layer;
                 inputElem.control = this;
-                if (!layer.inRange()) {
+                if (!baseLayer && !layer.inRange()) {
                     inputElem.disabled = true;
                 }
                 Event.observe(inputElem, "mouseup", 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher.prototype =
                 
                 // create span
                 var labelSpan = document.createElement("span");
-                if (!layer.inRange()) {
+                if (!baseLayer && !layer.inRange()) {
                     labelSpan.style.color = "grey";
                 }
                 labelSpan.innerHTML = layer.name;