diff --git a/src/ol/control/zoomcontrol.js b/src/ol/control/zoomcontrol.js
index 5ded1a0426..c0606138c9 100644
--- a/src/ol/control/zoomcontrol.js
+++ b/src/ol/control/zoomcontrol.js
@@ -140,6 +140,11 @@ ol.control.Zoom.prototype.handlePointerUp_ = function(delta, pointerEvent) {
 ol.control.Zoom.prototype.zoomByDelta_ = function(delta) {
   var map = this.getMap();
   var view = map.getView();
+  if (goog.isNull(view)) {
+    // the map does not have a view, so we can't act
+    // upon it
+    return;
+  }
   var currentResolution = view.getResolution();
   if (goog.isDef(currentResolution)) {
     if (this.duration_ > 0) {