diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index 325e8fa785..251ec53519 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -16,11 +16,13 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
     * @param {str} name
     */
     initialize: function(name) {
-        this.name = name;
-        if (this.div == null) {
-            this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
-            this.div.style.width = "100%";
-            this.div.style.height = "100%";
+        if (arguments.length > 0) {
+            this.name = name;
+            if (this.div == null) {
+                this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
+                this.div.style.width = "100%";
+                this.div.style.height = "100%";
+            }
         }
     },
     
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js
index fe7a179cd2..adfd522d99 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/Grid.js
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype = Object.extend( new OpenLayers.Layer(), {
     * @param {hash} params
     */
     initialize: function(name, url, params) {
-        OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.initialize.apply(this, [name]);
+        var newArguments = arguments;
+        if (arguments.length > 0) {
+            newArguments = [name];
+        }          
+        OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
         this.url = url;
         this.params = params;
     },