diff --git a/externs/oli.js b/externs/oli.js
index 51e181fc27..675505c8ae 100644
--- a/externs/oli.js
+++ b/externs/oli.js
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@ oli.FrameState.prototype.focus;
 oli.FrameState.prototype.index;
 
 
-/** @type {Array.<ol.layer.Layer>} */
-oli.FrameState.prototype.layersArray;
-
-
 /** @type {Object.<number, ol.layer.LayerState>} */
 oli.FrameState.prototype.layerStates;
 
 
+/** @type {Array.<ol.layer.LayerState>} */
+oli.FrameState.prototype.layerStatesArray;
+
+
 /** @type {Object.<string, string>} */
 oli.FrameState.prototype.logos;
 
diff --git a/src/ol/control/attributioncontrol.js b/src/ol/control/attributioncontrol.js
index 1433b40908..109faf06f9 100644
--- a/src/ol/control/attributioncontrol.js
+++ b/src/ol/control/attributioncontrol.js
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ ol.control.Attribution.prototype.getSourceAttributions =
     function(frameState) {
   var i, ii, j, jj, tileRanges, source, sourceAttribution,
       sourceAttributionKey, sourceAttributions, sourceKey;
-  var layers = frameState.layersArray;
+  var layerStatesArray = frameState.layerStatesArray;
   /** @type {Object.<string, ol.Attribution>} */
   var attributions = goog.object.clone(frameState.attributions);
   /** @type {Object.<string, ol.Attribution>} */
   var hiddenAttributions = {};
-  for (i = 0, ii = layers.length; i < ii; i++) {
-    source = layers[i].getSource();
+  for (i = 0, ii = layerStatesArray.length; i < ii; i++) {
+    source = layerStatesArray[i].layer.getSource();
     sourceKey = goog.getUid(source).toString();
     sourceAttributions = source.getAttributions();
     if (goog.isNull(sourceAttributions)) {
diff --git a/src/ol/layer/layer.js b/src/ol/layer/layer.js
index b9e7cb6ab5..55850bafb5 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/layer.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/layer.js
@@ -57,15 +57,10 @@ ol.layer.Layer.prototype.getLayersArray = function(opt_array) {
 /**
  * @inheritDoc
  */
-ol.layer.Layer.prototype.getLayerStatesArray = function(opt_obj) {
-  var obj = (goog.isDef(opt_obj)) ? opt_obj : {
-    layers: [],
-    layerStates: []
-  };
-  goog.asserts.assert(obj.layers.length === obj.layerStates.length);
-  obj.layers.push(this);
-  obj.layerStates.push(this.getLayerState());
-  return obj;
+ol.layer.Layer.prototype.getLayerStatesArray = function(opt_states) {
+  var states = (goog.isDef(opt_states)) ? opt_states : [];
+  states.push(this.getLayerState());
+  return states;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js b/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js
index 46bc1b7d2c..a55b2b9aa4 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/layerbase.js
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ ol.layer.LayerProperty = {
 
 
 /**
- * @typedef {{brightness: number,
+ * @typedef {{layer: ol.layer.Layer,
+ *            brightness: number,
  *            contrast: number,
  *            hue: number,
  *            opacity: number,
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ ol.layer.Base.prototype.getLayerState = function() {
   var maxResolution = this.getMaxResolution();
   var minResolution = this.getMinResolution();
   return {
+    layer: /** @type {ol.layer.Layer} */ (this),
     brightness: goog.isDef(brightness) ? goog.math.clamp(brightness, -1, 1) : 0,
     contrast: goog.isDef(contrast) ? Math.max(contrast, 0) : 1,
     hue: goog.isDef(hue) ? hue : 0,
@@ -148,14 +150,9 @@ ol.layer.Base.prototype.getLayersArray = goog.abstractMethod;
 
 
 /**
- * @param {{
- *     layers: Array.<ol.layer.Layer>,
- *     layerStates: Array.<ol.layer.LayerState>}=} opt_obj Object that store
- *     both the layers and the layerStates (to be modified in place).
- * @return {{
- *     layers: Array.<ol.layer.Layer>,
- *     layerStates: Array.<ol.layer.LayerState>}} Object that store both the
- *     layers and the layerStates.
+ * @param {Array.<ol.layer.LayerState>=} opt_states Optional list of layer
+ *     states (to be modified in place).
+ * @return {Array.<ol.layer.LayerState>} List of layer states.
  */
 ol.layer.Base.prototype.getLayerStatesArray = goog.abstractMethod;
 
diff --git a/src/ol/layer/layergroup.js b/src/ol/layer/layergroup.js
index 390cff2c0b..d814571de3 100644
--- a/src/ol/layer/layergroup.js
+++ b/src/ol/layer/layergroup.js
@@ -183,22 +183,19 @@ ol.layer.Group.prototype.getLayersArray = function(opt_array) {
 /**
  * @inheritDoc
  */
-ol.layer.Group.prototype.getLayerStatesArray = function(opt_obj) {
-  var obj = (goog.isDef(opt_obj)) ? opt_obj : {
-    layers: [],
-    layerStates: []
-  };
-  goog.asserts.assert(obj.layers.length === obj.layerStates.length);
-  var pos = obj.layers.length;
+ol.layer.Group.prototype.getLayerStatesArray = function(opt_states) {
+  var states = (goog.isDef(opt_states)) ? opt_states : [];
+
+  var pos = states.length;
 
   this.getLayers().forEach(function(layer) {
-    layer.getLayerStatesArray(obj);
+    layer.getLayerStatesArray(states);
   });
 
   var ownLayerState = this.getLayerState();
   var i, ii, layerState;
-  for (i = pos, ii = obj.layerStates.length; i < ii; i++) {
-    layerState = obj.layerStates[i];
+  for (i = pos, ii = states.length; i < ii; i++) {
+    layerState = states[i];
     layerState.brightness = goog.math.clamp(
         layerState.brightness + ownLayerState.brightness, -1, 1);
     layerState.contrast *= ownLayerState.contrast;
@@ -212,7 +209,7 @@ ol.layer.Group.prototype.getLayerStatesArray = function(opt_obj) {
         layerState.minResolution, ownLayerState.minResolution);
   }
 
-  return obj;
+  return states;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/ol/map.js b/src/ol/map.js
index 34f5d37071..9c5d171858 100644
--- a/src/ol/map.js
+++ b/src/ol/map.js
@@ -1207,14 +1207,10 @@ ol.Map.prototype.renderFrame_ = function(time) {
   if (goog.isDef(size) && hasArea(size) &&
       goog.isDef(view2D) && view2D.isDef()) {
     var viewHints = view.getHints();
-    var obj = this.getLayerGroup().getLayerStatesArray();
-    var layersArray = obj.layers;
-    var layerStatesArray = obj.layerStates;
+    var layerStatesArray = this.getLayerGroup().getLayerStatesArray();
     var layerStates = {};
-    var layer;
-    for (i = 0, ii = layersArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
-      layer = layersArray[i];
-      layerStates[goog.getUid(layer)] = layerStatesArray[i];
+    for (i = 0, ii = layerStatesArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+      layerStates[goog.getUid(layerStatesArray[i].layer)] = layerStatesArray[i];
     }
     view2DState = view2D.getView2DState();
     frameState = /** @type {oli.FrameState} */ ({
@@ -1224,8 +1220,8 @@ ol.Map.prototype.renderFrame_ = function(time) {
       extent: null,
       focus: goog.isNull(this.focus_) ? view2DState.center : this.focus_,
       index: this.frameIndex_++,
-      layersArray: layersArray,
       layerStates: layerStates,
+      layerStatesArray: layerStatesArray,
       logos: {},
       pixelRatio: this.pixelRatio_,
       pixelToCoordinateMatrix: this.pixelToCoordinateMatrix_,
diff --git a/src/ol/renderer/canvas/canvasmaprenderer.js b/src/ol/renderer/canvas/canvasmaprenderer.js
index 7ff360992f..e0d499a520 100644
--- a/src/ol/renderer/canvas/canvasmaprenderer.js
+++ b/src/ol/renderer/canvas/canvasmaprenderer.js
@@ -151,15 +151,14 @@ ol.renderer.canvas.Map.prototype.renderFrame = function(frameState) {
 
   this.dispatchComposeEvent_(ol.render.EventType.PRECOMPOSE, frameState);
 
-  var layerStates = frameState.layerStates;
-  var layersArray = frameState.layersArray;
+  var layerStatesArray = frameState.layerStatesArray;
   var viewResolution = frameState.view2DState.resolution;
   var i, ii, layer, layerRenderer, layerState;
-  for (i = 0, ii = layersArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
-    layer = layersArray[i];
+  for (i = 0, ii = layerStatesArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+    layerState = layerStatesArray[i];
+    layer = layerState.layer;
     layerRenderer = this.getLayerRenderer(layer);
     goog.asserts.assertInstanceof(layerRenderer, ol.renderer.canvas.Layer);
-    layerState = layerStates[goog.getUid(layer)];
     if (!layerState.visible ||
         layerState.sourceState != ol.source.State.READY ||
         viewResolution >= layerState.maxResolution ||
diff --git a/src/ol/renderer/dom/dommaprenderer.js b/src/ol/renderer/dom/dommaprenderer.js
index 0eaa8410bb..8f5eec30ca 100644
--- a/src/ol/renderer/dom/dommaprenderer.js
+++ b/src/ol/renderer/dom/dommaprenderer.js
@@ -117,21 +117,21 @@ ol.renderer.dom.Map.prototype.renderFrame = function(frameState) {
         });
   }
 
-  var layerStates = frameState.layerStates;
-  var layersArray = frameState.layersArray;
+  var layerStatesArray = frameState.layerStatesArray;
   var i, ii, layer, layerRenderer, layerState;
-  for (i = 0, ii = layersArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
-    layer = layersArray[i];
+  for (i = 0, ii = layerStatesArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+    layerState = layerStatesArray[i];
+    layer = layerState.layer;
     layerRenderer = /** @type {ol.renderer.dom.Layer} */ (
         this.getLayerRenderer(layer));
     goog.asserts.assertInstanceof(layerRenderer, ol.renderer.dom.Layer);
     addChild.call(this, layerRenderer.getTarget(), i);
-    layerState = frameState.layerStates[goog.getUid(layer)];
     if (layerState.sourceState == ol.source.State.READY) {
       layerRenderer.prepareFrame(frameState, layerState);
     }
   }
 
+  var layerStates = frameState.layerStates;
   var layerKey;
   for (layerKey in this.getLayerRenderers()) {
     if (!(layerKey in layerStates)) {
diff --git a/src/ol/renderer/maprenderer.js b/src/ol/renderer/maprenderer.js
index 6632fc3328..f041562fe9 100644
--- a/src/ol/renderer/maprenderer.js
+++ b/src/ol/renderer/maprenderer.js
@@ -97,15 +97,12 @@ ol.renderer.Map.prototype.disposeInternal = function() {
 ol.renderer.Map.prototype.forEachFeatureAtPixel =
     function(coordinate, frameState, callback, thisArg,
         layerFilter, thisArg2) {
-  var obj = this.map_.getLayerGroup().getLayerStatesArray();
-  var layers = obj.layers;
-  var layerStates = obj.layerStates;
-  goog.asserts.assert(layers.length == layerStates.length);
-  var numLayers = layers.length;
+  var layerStates = this.map_.getLayerGroup().getLayerStatesArray();
+  var numLayers = layerStates.length;
   var i;
   for (i = numLayers - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
     var layerState = layerStates[i];
-    var layer = layers[i];
+    var layer = layerState.layer;
     if (layerState.visible && layerFilter.call(thisArg2, layer)) {
       var layerRenderer = this.getLayerRenderer(layer);
       var result = layerRenderer.forEachFeatureAtPixel(
diff --git a/src/ol/renderer/webgl/webglmaprenderer.js b/src/ol/renderer/webgl/webglmaprenderer.js
index aea240c698..df1f4597d1 100644
--- a/src/ol/renderer/webgl/webglmaprenderer.js
+++ b/src/ol/renderer/webgl/webglmaprenderer.js
@@ -441,27 +441,26 @@ ol.renderer.webgl.Map.prototype.renderFrame = function(frameState) {
   this.textureCache_.set((-frameState.index).toString(), null);
   ++this.textureCacheFrameMarkerCount_;
 
-  /** @type {Array.<ol.layer.Layer>} */
-  var layersToDraw = [];
-  var layersArray = frameState.layersArray;
+  /** @type {Array.<ol.layer.LayerState>} */
+  var layerStatesToDraw = [];
+  var layerStatesArray = frameState.layerStatesArray;
   var viewResolution = frameState.view2DState.resolution;
-  var i, ii, layer, layerRenderer, layerState;
-  for (i = 0, ii = layersArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
-    layer = layersArray[i];
-    layerState = frameState.layerStates[goog.getUid(layer)];
+  var i, ii, layerState;
+  for (i = 0, ii = layerStatesArray.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+    layerState = layerStatesArray[i];
     if (layerState.visible &&
         layerState.sourceState == ol.source.State.READY &&
         viewResolution < layerState.maxResolution &&
         viewResolution >= layerState.minResolution) {
-      layersToDraw.push(layer);
+      layerStatesToDraw.push(layerState);
     }
   }
 
-  for (i = 0, ii = layersToDraw.length; i < ii; ++i) {
-    layer = layersToDraw[i];
-    layerRenderer = this.getLayerRenderer(layer);
+  var layerRenderer;
+  for (i = 0, ii = layerStatesToDraw.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+    layerState = layerStatesToDraw[i];
+    layerRenderer = this.getLayerRenderer(layerState.layer);
     goog.asserts.assertInstanceof(layerRenderer, ol.renderer.webgl.Layer);
-    layerState = frameState.layerStates[goog.getUid(layer)];
     layerRenderer.prepareFrame(frameState, layerState);
   }
 
@@ -481,10 +480,9 @@ ol.renderer.webgl.Map.prototype.renderFrame = function(frameState) {
 
   this.dispatchComposeEvent_(ol.render.EventType.PRECOMPOSE, frameState);
 
-  for (i = 0, ii = layersToDraw.length; i < ii; ++i) {
-    layer = layersToDraw[i];
-    layerState = frameState.layerStates[goog.getUid(layer)];
-    layerRenderer = this.getLayerRenderer(layer);
+  for (i = 0, ii = layerStatesToDraw.length; i < ii; ++i) {
+    layerState = layerStatesToDraw[i];
+    layerRenderer = this.getLayerRenderer(layerState.layer);
     goog.asserts.assertInstanceof(layerRenderer, ol.renderer.webgl.Layer);
     layerRenderer.composeFrame(frameState, layerState, context);
   }
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js b/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
index 4d8f1b516c..afafb9a617 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/layer/layer.test.js
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
 
     it('provides default layerState', function() {
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: 0,
         contrast: 1,
         hue: 0,
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       expect(layer.getMinResolution()).to.be(0.25);
       expect(layer.get('foo')).to.be(42);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: 0.5,
         contrast: 10,
         hue: 180,
@@ -132,6 +134,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       layer.setMaxResolution(500);
       layer.setMinResolution(0.25);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: -0.7,
         contrast: 0.3,
         hue: -0.3,
@@ -152,6 +155,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       layer.setSaturation(-0.7);
       layer.setVisible(false);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: 1,
         contrast: 0,
         hue: 42,
@@ -170,6 +174,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Layer', function() {
       layer.setSaturation(42);
       layer.setVisible(true);
       expect(layer.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layer,
         brightness: -1,
         contrast: 42,
         hue: -100,
diff --git a/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js b/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js
index d3a29cfd15..d28ca09773 100644
--- a/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js
+++ b/test/spec/ol/layer/layergroup.test.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
 
     it('provides default layerState', function() {
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: 0,
         contrast: 1,
         hue: 0,
@@ -170,6 +171,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       expect(layerGroup.getMaxResolution()).to.be(500);
       expect(layerGroup.getMinResolution()).to.be(0.25);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: 0.5,
         contrast: 10,
         hue: 180,
@@ -212,6 +214,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       layerGroup.setMaxResolution(500);
       layerGroup.setMinResolution(0.25);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: -0.7,
         contrast: 0.3,
         hue: -0.3,
@@ -232,6 +235,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       layerGroup.setSaturation(-0.7);
       layerGroup.setVisible(false);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: 1,
         contrast: 0,
         hue: 42,
@@ -250,6 +254,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
       layerGroup.setSaturation(42);
       layerGroup.setVisible(true);
       expect(layerGroup.getLayerState()).to.eql({
+        layer: layerGroup,
         brightness: -1,
         contrast: 42,
         hue: -100,
@@ -292,19 +297,10 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
 
   describe('#getLayerStatesArray', function() {
 
-    var layerGroup;
-    var layersArray;
-    var layerStatesArray;
-    var obj;
-
     it('returns an empty array if no layer', function() {
-      layerGroup = new ol.layer.Group();
+      var layerGroup = new ol.layer.Group();
 
-      obj = layerGroup.getLayerStatesArray();
-      layersArray = obj.layers;
-      layerStatesArray = obj.layerStates;
-      expect(layersArray).to.be.a(Array);
-      expect(layersArray.length).to.be(0);
+      var layerStatesArray = layerGroup.getLayerStatesArray();
       expect(layerStatesArray).to.be.a(Array);
       expect(layerStatesArray.length).to.be(0);
 
@@ -331,28 +327,29 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
     });
 
     it('does not transform layerStates by default', function() {
-      layerGroup = new ol.layer.Group({
+      var layerGroup = new ol.layer.Group({
         layers: [layer1, layer2]
       });
 
-      obj = layerGroup.getLayerStatesArray();
-      layersArray = obj.layers;
-      layerStatesArray = obj.layerStates;
-      expect(layersArray).to.be.a(Array);
-      expect(layersArray.length).to.be(2);
-      expect(layersArray[0]).to.be(layer1);
-      expect(layersArray[1]).to.be(layer2);
+      var layerStatesArray = layerGroup.getLayerStatesArray();
       expect(layerStatesArray).to.be.a(Array);
       expect(layerStatesArray.length).to.be(2);
       expect(layerStatesArray[0]).to.eql(layer1.getLayerState());
-      expect(layerStatesArray[0]).to.eql(layerGroup.getLayerState());
+
+      // layer state should match except for layer reference
+      var layerState = goog.object.clone(layerStatesArray[0]);
+      delete layerState.layer;
+      var groupState = goog.object.clone(layerGroup.getLayerState());
+      delete groupState.layer;
+      expect(layerState).to.eql(groupState);
+
       expect(layerStatesArray[1]).to.eql(layer2.getLayerState());
 
       goog.dispose(layerGroup);
     });
 
     it('transforms layerStates correctly', function() {
-      layerGroup = new ol.layer.Group({
+      var layerGroup = new ol.layer.Group({
         layers: [layer1, layer2],
         brightness: 0.5,
         contrast: 10,
@@ -364,11 +361,22 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
         minResolution: 0.2
       });
 
-      obj = layerGroup.getLayerStatesArray();
-      layersArray = obj.layers;
-      layerStatesArray = obj.layerStates;
-      expect(layerStatesArray[0]).to.eql(layerGroup.getLayerState());
-      expect(layerStatesArray[1]).to.eql({
+      var layerStatesArray = layerGroup.getLayerStatesArray();
+
+      // compare layer state to group state
+      var groupState, layerState;
+
+      // layer state should match except for layer reference
+      layerState = goog.object.clone(layerStatesArray[0]);
+      delete layerState.layer;
+      groupState = goog.object.clone(layerGroup.getLayerState());
+      delete groupState.layer;
+      expect(layerState).to.eql(groupState);
+
+      // layer state should be transformed (and we ignore layer reference)
+      layerState = goog.object.clone(layerStatesArray[1]);
+      delete layerState.layer;
+      expect(layerState).to.eql({
         brightness: 1,
         contrast: 100,
         hue: 360,
@@ -392,6 +400,7 @@ describe('ol.layer.Group', function() {
 
 goog.require('goog.dispose');
 goog.require('goog.events.EventType');
+goog.require('goog.object');
 goog.require('ol.ObjectEventType');
 goog.require('ol.layer.Layer');
 goog.require('ol.layer.Group');