diff --git a/src/ol/layer/TileLayer.js b/src/ol/layer/TileLayer.js
index 146e56b1b4..ba6e7066bf 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/TileLayer.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/TileLayer.js
@@ -70,6 +70,18 @@ ol.layer.TileLayer = function() {
      */
     this.maxResolution_ = undefined;
 
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @type {boolean}
+     */
+    this.xRight_ = true;
+
+    /**
+     * @private
+     * @type {boolean}
+     */
+    this.yDown_ = true;
+
     /**
      * @private
      * @type {number|undefined}
@@ -92,6 +104,33 @@ ol.layer.TileLayer = function() {
 
 goog.inherits(ol.layer.TileLayer, ol.layer.Layer);
 
+/**
+ * @return {boolean} The tile index increases from left to right.
+ */
+ol.layer.TileLayer.prototype.getXRight = function() {
+    return this.xRight_;
+};
+
+/**
+ * @return {boolean} The tile index increases from top to bottom.
+ */
+ol.layer.TileLayer.prototype.getYDown = function() {
+    return this.yDown_;
+};
+
+/**
+ * @param {boolean} right The tile index increases from left to right.
+ */
+ol.layer.TileLayer.prototype.setXRight = function(right) {
+    this.xRight_ = right;
+};
+
+/**
+ * @param {boolean} down The tile index increases from top to bottom.
+ */
+ol.layer.TileLayer.prototype.setYDown = function(down) {
+    this.yDown_ = down;
+};
 
 /**
  * Get layer extent. Return null if the layer has no extent
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/layer/TileLayer.test.js b/test/spec/ol/layer/TileLayer.test.js
index 275b273480..3c6ccd8481 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/layer/TileLayer.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/layer/TileLayer.test.js
@@ -22,6 +22,26 @@ describe('ol.layer.TileLayer', function() {
         });
     });
 
+    describe('axis orientation', function() {
+        var layer = new ol.layer.TileLayer();
+
+        it('increases from left to right by default', function() {
+            expect(layer.getXRight()).toBe(true);
+        });
+        it('increases from top to bottom by default', function() {
+            expect(layer.getYDown()).toBe(true);
+        });
+        
+        it('allows people to set things backwards', function() {
+            var backwards = new ol.layer.TileLayer();
+            backwards.setXRight(false);
+            expect(backwards.getXRight()).toBe(false);
+            backwards.setYDown(false);
+            expect(backwards.getYDown()).toBe(false);            
+        });
+
+    });
+
     describe('get tile origin', function() {
         var layer;