diff --git a/externs/olx.js b/externs/olx.js
index fbd98e7ae2..01445f7d27 100644
--- a/externs/olx.js
+++ b/externs/olx.js
@@ -8,6 +8,21 @@ var olx;
 /* typedefs for object literals provided by applications */
 
 
+/**
+ * @typedef {{unique: (boolean|undefined)}}
+ */
+olx.CollectionOptions;
+
+
+/**
+ * Disallow the same item from being added to the collection twice.  Default is
+ * false.
+ * @type {boolean|undefined}
+ * @api
+ */
+olx.CollectionOptions.prototype.unique;
+
+
 /**
  * @typedef {{html: string,
  *     tileRanges: (Object.<string, Array.<ol.TileRange>>|undefined)}}
diff --git a/src/ol/collection.js b/src/ol/collection.js
index c1b3fd8d28..c21bc2f867 100644
--- a/src/ol/collection.js
+++ b/src/ol/collection.js
@@ -23,19 +23,34 @@ goog.require('ol.events.Event');
  * @extends {ol.Object}
  * @fires ol.Collection.Event
  * @param {!Array.<T>=} opt_array Array.
+ * @param {olx.CollectionOptions=} opt_options Collection options.
  * @template T
  * @api
  */
-ol.Collection = function(opt_array) {
+ol.Collection = function(opt_array, opt_options) {
 
   ol.Object.call(this);
 
+  var options = opt_options || {};
+
+  /**
+   * @private
+   * @type {boolean}
+   */
+  this.unique_ = !!options.unique;
+
   /**
    * @private
    * @type {!Array.<T>}
    */
   this.array_ = opt_array ? opt_array : [];
 
+  if (this.unique_) {
+    for (var i = 0, ii = this.array_.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+      this.assertUnique_(this.array_[i], i);
+    }
+  }
+
   this.updateLength_();
 
 };
@@ -125,6 +140,9 @@ ol.Collection.prototype.getLength = function() {
  * @api
  */
 ol.Collection.prototype.insertAt = function(index, elem) {
+  if (this.unique_) {
+    this.assertUnique_(elem);
+  }
   this.array_.splice(index, 0, elem);
   this.updateLength_();
   this.dispatchEvent(
@@ -150,6 +168,9 @@ ol.Collection.prototype.pop = function() {
  * @api
  */
 ol.Collection.prototype.push = function(elem) {
+  if (this.unique_) {
+    this.assertUnique_(elem);
+  }
   var n = this.getLength();
   this.insertAt(n, elem);
   return this.getLength();
@@ -200,6 +221,9 @@ ol.Collection.prototype.removeAt = function(index) {
 ol.Collection.prototype.setAt = function(index, elem) {
   var n = this.getLength();
   if (index < n) {
+    if (this.unique_) {
+      this.assertUnique_(elem, index);
+    }
     var prev = this.array_[index];
     this.array_[index] = elem;
     this.dispatchEvent(
@@ -224,6 +248,20 @@ ol.Collection.prototype.updateLength_ = function() {
 };
 
 
+/**
+ * @private
+ * @param {T} elem Element.
+ * @param {number=} opt_except Optional index to ignore.
+ */
+ol.Collection.prototype.assertUnique_ = function(elem, opt_except) {
+  for (var i = 0, ii = this.array_.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+    if (this.array_[i] === elem && i !== opt_except) {
+      throw new Error('Duplicate item added to a unique collection');
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+
 /**
  * @enum {string}
  * @private
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/collection.test.js b/test/spec/ol/collection.test.js
index 00f7dc9a13..893a08330a 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/collection.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/collection.test.js
@@ -298,4 +298,67 @@ describe('ol.collection', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('unique collection', function() {
+    it('allows unique items in the constructor', function() {
+      new ol.Collection([{}, {}, {}], {unique: true});
+    });
+
+    it('throws if duplicate items are passed to the contructor', function() {
+      var item = {};
+      var call = function() {
+        new ol.Collection([item, item], {unique: true});
+      };
+      expect(call).to.throwException();
+    });
+
+    it('allows unique items to be added via push', function() {
+      var unique = new ol.Collection(undefined, {unique: true});
+      unique.push({});
+      unique.push({});
+    });
+
+    it('throws if duplicate items are added via push', function() {
+      var unique = new ol.Collection(undefined, {unique: true});
+      var item = {};
+      unique.push(item);
+      var call = function() {
+        unique.push(item);
+      };
+      expect(call).to.throwException();
+    });
+
+    it('allows unique items to be added via insertAt', function() {
+      var unique = new ol.Collection(undefined, {unique: true});
+      unique.insertAt(0, {});
+      unique.insertAt(0, {});
+    });
+
+    it('throws if duplicate items are added via insertAt', function() {
+      var unique = new ol.Collection(undefined, {unique: true});
+      var item = {};
+      unique.insertAt(0, item);
+      var call = function() {
+        unique.insertAt(0, item);
+      };
+      expect(call).to.throwException();
+    });
+
+    it('allows unique items to be added via setAt', function() {
+      var unique = new ol.Collection(undefined, {unique: true});
+      unique.setAt(0, {});
+      unique.setAt(1, {});
+    });
+
+    it('throws if duplicate items are added via setAt', function() {
+      var unique = new ol.Collection(undefined, {unique: true});
+      var item = {};
+      unique.setAt(0, item);
+      var call = function() {
+        unique.setAt(1, item);
+      };
+      expect(call).to.throwException();
+    });
+
+  });
+
 });