diff --git a/externs/olx.js b/externs/olx.js
index 4f634dbb1c..dbbe89847a 100644
--- a/externs/olx.js
+++ b/externs/olx.js
@@ -3903,6 +3903,13 @@ olx.render.ToContextOptions.prototype.pixelRatio;
 olx.source;
 
 
+/**
+ * @typedef {string|Array.<string>|ol.Attribution|Array.<ol.Attribution>}
+ * @api
+ */
+olx.source.AttributionOption;
+
+
 /**
  * @typedef {{cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     culture: (string|undefined),
@@ -3989,7 +3996,7 @@ olx.source.BingMapsOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     distance: (number|undefined),
  *     extent: (ol.Extent|undefined),
  *     format: (ol.format.Feature|undefined),
@@ -4005,7 +4012,7 @@ olx.source.ClusterOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api
  */
 olx.source.ClusterOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -4115,7 +4122,7 @@ olx.source.TileUTFGridOptions.prototype.url;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *            cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *            crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *            logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
@@ -4140,7 +4147,7 @@ olx.source.TileImageOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api
  */
 olx.source.TileImageOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -4287,7 +4294,7 @@ olx.source.TileImageOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *            cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *            format: (ol.format.Feature|undefined),
  *            logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
@@ -4311,13 +4318,12 @@ olx.source.VectorTileOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api
  */
 olx.source.VectorTileOptions.prototype.attributions;
 
 
-
 /**
  * Cache size. Default is `128`.
  * @type {number|undefined}
@@ -4640,7 +4646,7 @@ olx.source.TileDebugOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *     maxZoom: (number|undefined),
@@ -4656,7 +4662,7 @@ olx.source.OSMOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.OSMOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -4740,7 +4746,7 @@ olx.source.OSMOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     canvasFunction: ol.CanvasFunctionType,
  *     logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
  *     projection: ol.proj.ProjectionLike,
@@ -4754,7 +4760,7 @@ olx.source.ImageCanvasOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api
  */
 olx.source.ImageCanvasOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -4819,7 +4825,7 @@ olx.source.ImageCanvasOptions.prototype.state;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
  *     projection: ol.proj.ProjectionLike,
  *     ratio: (number|undefined),
@@ -4833,7 +4839,7 @@ olx.source.ImageVectorOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api
  */
 olx.source.ImageVectorOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -4951,7 +4957,7 @@ olx.source.RasterOptions.prototype.operationType;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *     hidpi: (boolean|undefined),
  *     serverType: (ol.source.wms.ServerType|string|undefined),
@@ -4969,7 +4975,7 @@ olx.source.ImageWMSOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.ImageWMSOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -5149,7 +5155,7 @@ olx.source.StamenOptions.prototype.url;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *     imageExtent: (ol.Extent),
  *     imageLoadFunction: (ol.ImageLoadFunctionType|undefined),
@@ -5164,7 +5170,7 @@ olx.source.ImageStaticOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.ImageStaticOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -5233,7 +5239,7 @@ olx.source.ImageStaticOptions.prototype.url;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *     params: (Object.<string, *>|undefined),
@@ -5252,7 +5258,7 @@ olx.source.TileArcGISRestOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api
  */
 olx.source.TileArcGISRestOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -5369,7 +5375,7 @@ olx.source.TileArcGISRestOptions.prototype.urls;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *     jsonp: (boolean|undefined),
@@ -5386,7 +5392,7 @@ olx.source.TileJSONOptions;
  * Optional attributions for the source.  If provided, these will be used
  * instead of any attribution data advertised by the server.  If not provided,
  * any attributions advertised by the server will be used.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.TileJSONOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -5460,7 +5466,7 @@ olx.source.TileJSONOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     params: Object.<string,*>,
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
@@ -5483,7 +5489,7 @@ olx.source.TileWMSOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.TileWMSOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -5639,7 +5645,7 @@ olx.source.TileWMSOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     features: (Array.<ol.Feature>|ol.Collection.<ol.Feature>|undefined),
  *     format: (ol.format.Feature|undefined),
  *     loader: (ol.FeatureLoader|undefined),
@@ -5655,7 +5661,7 @@ olx.source.VectorOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.VectorOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -5759,7 +5765,7 @@ olx.source.VectorOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (string|null|undefined),
  *     logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
@@ -5789,7 +5795,7 @@ olx.source.WMTSOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api
  */
 olx.source.WMTSOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -5975,7 +5981,7 @@ olx.source.WMTSOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *     logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
@@ -5999,7 +6005,7 @@ olx.source.XYZOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.XYZOptions.prototype.attributions;
@@ -6150,7 +6156,7 @@ olx.source.XYZOptions.prototype.wrapX;
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *     cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *     crossOrigin: (null|string|undefined),
  *     logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
@@ -6165,7 +6171,7 @@ olx.source.ZoomifyOptions;
 
 /**
  * Attributions.
- * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined}
+ * @type {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
  * @api stable
  */
 olx.source.ZoomifyOptions.prototype.attributions;
diff --git a/src/ol/source/imagesource.js b/src/ol/source/imagesource.js
index f6c4f52977..7f72b1f104 100644
--- a/src/ol/source/imagesource.js
+++ b/src/ol/source/imagesource.js
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ goog.provide('ol.source.ImageEvent');
 
 goog.require('goog.asserts');
 goog.require('ol.events.Event');
-goog.require('ol.Attribution');
 goog.require('ol.ImageState');
 goog.require('ol.array');
 goog.require('ol.extent');
@@ -13,7 +12,7 @@ goog.require('ol.source.Source');
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *            extent: (null|ol.Extent|undefined),
  *            logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
  *            projection: ol.proj.ProjectionLike,
diff --git a/src/ol/source/imagestaticsource.js b/src/ol/source/imagestaticsource.js
index d482f23ef1..2d046d1c17 100644
--- a/src/ol/source/imagestaticsource.js
+++ b/src/ol/source/imagestaticsource.js
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ goog.require('ol.source.Image');
  * @api stable
  */
 ol.source.ImageStatic = function(options) {
-
-  var attributions = options.attributions !== undefined ?
-      options.attributions : null;
-
   var imageExtent = options.imageExtent;
 
   var crossOrigin = options.crossOrigin !== undefined ?
@@ -34,7 +30,7 @@ ol.source.ImageStatic = function(options) {
       options.imageLoadFunction : ol.source.Image.defaultImageLoadFunction;
 
   goog.base(this, {
-    attributions: attributions,
+    attributions: options.attributions,
     logo: options.logo,
     projection: ol.proj.get(options.projection)
   });
@@ -43,7 +39,7 @@ ol.source.ImageStatic = function(options) {
    * @private
    * @type {ol.Image}
    */
-  this.image_ = new ol.Image(imageExtent, undefined, 1, attributions,
+  this.image_ = new ol.Image(imageExtent, undefined, 1, this.getAttributions(),
       options.url, crossOrigin, imageLoadFunction);
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/ol/source/source.js b/src/ol/source/source.js
index ed9e8a3d6a..792a0fb5b2 100644
--- a/src/ol/source/source.js
+++ b/src/ol/source/source.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ ol.source.State = {
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *            logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
  *            projection: ol.proj.ProjectionLike,
  *            state: (ol.source.State|undefined),
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@ ol.source.Source = function(options) {
    * @private
    * @type {Array.<ol.Attribution>}
    */
-  this.attributions_ = options.attributions !== undefined ?
-      options.attributions : null;
+  this.attributions_ = ol.source.Source.toAttributionsArray_(options.attributions);
 
   /**
    * @private
@@ -82,6 +81,37 @@ ol.source.Source = function(options) {
 };
 goog.inherits(ol.source.Source, ol.Object);
 
+/**
+ * Turns various ways of defining an attribution to an array of `ol.Attributions`.
+ *
+ * @param {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined}
+ *     attributionLike The attributions as string, array of strings,
+ *     `ol.Attribution`, array of `ol.Attribution` or undefined.
+ * @return {Array.<ol.Attribution>} The array of `ol.Attribution` or null if
+ *     `undefined` was given.
+ */
+ol.source.Source.toAttributionsArray_ = function(attributionLike) {
+  if (typeof attributionLike === 'string') {
+    return [new ol.Attribution({html: attributionLike})];
+  } else if (attributionLike instanceof ol.Attribution) {
+    return [attributionLike];
+  } else if (Array.isArray(attributionLike)) {
+    var len = attributionLike.length;
+    var attributions = new Array(len);
+    for (var i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+      var item = attributionLike[i];
+      if (typeof item === 'string') {
+        attributions[i] = new ol.Attribution({html: item});
+      } else {
+        attributions[i] = item;
+      }
+    }
+    return attributions;
+  } else {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
 
 /**
  * @param {ol.Coordinate} coordinate Coordinate.
@@ -161,11 +191,13 @@ ol.source.Source.prototype.refresh = function() {
 
 /**
  * Set the attributions of the source.
- * @param {Array.<ol.Attribution>} attributions Attributions.
+ * @param {olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined} attributions Attributions.
+ *     Can be passed as `string`, `Array<string>`, `{@link ol.Attribution}`,
+ *     `Array<{@link ol.Attribution}>` or `undefined`.
  * @api
  */
 ol.source.Source.prototype.setAttributions = function(attributions) {
-  this.attributions_ = attributions;
+  this.attributions_ = ol.source.Source.toAttributionsArray_(attributions);
   this.changed();
 };
 
diff --git a/src/ol/source/tilesource.js b/src/ol/source/tilesource.js
index 57d7f5099e..8ad0a4213d 100644
--- a/src/ol/source/tilesource.js
+++ b/src/ol/source/tilesource.js
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ goog.provide('ol.source.TileOptions');
 goog.require('goog.asserts');
 goog.require('ol.events.Event');
 goog.require('ol');
-goog.require('ol.Attribution');
 goog.require('ol.Extent');
 goog.require('ol.TileCache');
 goog.require('ol.TileRange');
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ goog.require('ol.tilegrid.TileGrid');
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *            cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *            extent: (ol.Extent|undefined),
  *            logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
diff --git a/src/ol/source/urltilesource.js b/src/ol/source/urltilesource.js
index 2a80ef9132..7745dc5078 100644
--- a/src/ol/source/urltilesource.js
+++ b/src/ol/source/urltilesource.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ goog.require('ol.source.TileEvent');
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{attributions: (Array.<ol.Attribution>|undefined),
+ * @typedef {{attributions: (olx.source.AttributionOption|undefined),
  *            cacheSize: (number|undefined),
  *            extent: (ol.Extent|undefined),
  *            logo: (string|olx.LogoOptions|undefined),
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/source/source.test.js b/test/spec/ol/source/source.test.js
index 49b5e523ed..fb1c4a2683 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/source/source.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/source/source.test.js
@@ -11,6 +11,74 @@ describe('ol.source.Source', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('config option `attributions`', function() {
+    it('accepts undefined', function() {
+      var source = new ol.source.Source({});
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.be(null);
+    });
+    it('accepts a single string', function() {
+      var source = new ol.source.Source({
+        attributions: 'Humpty'
+      });
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(1);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0].getHTML()).to.be('Humpty');
+    });
+    it('accepts an array of strings', function() {
+      var source = new ol.source.Source({
+        attributions: ['Humpty', 'Dumpty']
+      });
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(2);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0].getHTML()).to.be('Humpty');
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[1].getHTML()).to.be('Dumpty');
+    });
+    it('accepts a single ol.Attribution', function() {
+      var passedAttribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Humpty'});
+      var source = new ol.source.Source({
+        attributions: passedAttribution
+      });
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(1);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be(passedAttribution);
+    });
+    it('accepts an array of ol.Attribution', function() {
+      var firstAttribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Humpty'});
+      var secondAttribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Dumpty'});
+      var source = new ol.source.Source({
+        attributions: [firstAttribution, secondAttribution]
+      });
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(2);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be(firstAttribution);
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be(secondAttribution);
+    });
+    it('accepts an array with a string and an ol.Attribution', function() {
+      var attribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Dumpty'});
+      var source = new ol.source.Source({
+        attributions: ['Humpty', attribution]
+      });
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(2);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0].getHTML()).to.be('Humpty');
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be(attribution);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('#refresh()', function() {
     it('dispatches the change event', function() {
       var source = new ol.source.Source({
@@ -23,7 +91,77 @@ describe('ol.source.Source', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('#setAttributions`', function() {
+    var source = null;
+
+    beforeEach(function() {
+      source = new ol.source.Source({
+        attributions: 'before'
+      });
+    });
+    afterEach(function() {
+      source = null;
+    });
+
+    it('accepts undefined', function() {
+      source.setAttributions();
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.be(null);
+    });
+    it('accepts a single string', function() {
+      source.setAttributions('Humpty');
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(1);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0].getHTML()).to.be('Humpty');
+    });
+    it('accepts an array of strings', function() {
+      source.setAttributions(['Humpty', 'Dumpty']);
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(2);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0].getHTML()).to.be('Humpty');
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[1].getHTML()).to.be('Dumpty');
+    });
+    it('accepts a single ol.Attribution', function() {
+      var passedAttribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Humpty'});
+      source.setAttributions(passedAttribution);
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(1);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be(passedAttribution);
+    });
+    it('accepts an array of ol.Attribution', function() {
+      var firstAttribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Humpty'});
+      var secondAttribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Dumpty'});
+      source.setAttributions([firstAttribution, secondAttribution]);
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(2);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be(firstAttribution);
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be(secondAttribution);
+    });
+    it('accepts an array with a string and an ol.Attribution', function() {
+      var attribution = new ol.Attribution({html: 'Dumpty'});
+      source.setAttributions(['Humpty', attribution])
+      var attributions = source.getAttributions();
+      expect(attributions).to.not.be(null);
+      expect(attributions).to.have.length(2);
+      expect(attributions[0]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[0].getHTML()).to.be('Humpty');
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be.an(ol.Attribution);
+      expect(attributions[1]).to.be(attribution);
+    });
+  });
+
 });
 
+goog.require('ol.Attribution');
 goog.require('ol.proj');
 goog.require('ol.source.Source');