diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index 46ec873be7..06940d117a 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -471,6 +471,16 @@ OpenLayers.Layer = OpenLayers.Class({
         if (this.options == null) {
             this.options = {};
         }
+        
+        // allow array for extents
+        if (newOptions) {
+            if (newOptions.maxExtent && !(newOptions.maxExtent instanceof OpenLayers.Bounds)) {
+                newOptions.maxExtent = new OpenLayers.Bounds(newOptions.maxExtent);
+            }
+            if (newOptions.minExtent && !(newOptions.minExtent instanceof OpenLayers.Bounds)) {
+                newOptions.minExtent = new OpenLayers.Bounds(newOptions.minExtent);
+            }
+        }
 
         // update our copy for clone
         OpenLayers.Util.extend(this.options, newOptions);
diff --git a/tests/Layer.html b/tests/Layer.html
index 92976c6f21..eabd233aee 100644
--- a/tests/Layer.html
+++ b/tests/Layer.html
@@ -197,6 +197,39 @@
         t.eq(layer.numZoomLevels, numZoomLevels, "numZoomLevels set correctly");
     }
     
+    function test_maxExtent(t) {
+        t.plan(5);
+        
+        var layer = new OpenLayers.Layer(
+            null, {maxExtent: [-180, 0, 0, 90]}
+        );
+        
+        t.ok(layer.maxExtent instanceof OpenLayers.Bounds, "(array) bounds instance");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.left, -180, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.bottom, 0, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.right, 0, "(array) bounds right");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.top, 90, "(array) bounds top");
+        
+        layer.destroy();
+    }
+
+    function test_minExtent(t) {
+        t.plan(5);
+        
+        var layer = new OpenLayers.Layer(
+            null, {minExtent: [-180, 0, 0, 90]}
+        );
+        
+        t.ok(layer.minExtent instanceof OpenLayers.Bounds, "(array) bounds instance");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.left, -180, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.bottom, 0, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.right, 0, "(array) bounds right");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.top, 90, "(array) bounds top");
+        
+        layer.destroy();
+    }
+
+
     function test_eventListeners(t) {
         t.plan(1);
         
diff --git a/tests/Layer/WMS.html b/tests/Layer/WMS.html
index 51228b0afb..27d69a57bc 100644
--- a/tests/Layer/WMS.html
+++ b/tests/Layer/WMS.html
@@ -378,6 +378,42 @@
 
     }
 
+    function test_maxExtent(t) {
+        t.plan(5);
+        
+        var layer = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS(
+            null, "http://example.com/wms", 
+            {layers: "foo"}, 
+            {maxExtent: [-180, 0, 0, 90]}
+        );
+        
+        t.ok(layer.maxExtent instanceof OpenLayers.Bounds, "(array) bounds instance");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.left, -180, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.bottom, 0, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.right, 0, "(array) bounds right");
+        t.eq(layer.maxExtent.top, 90, "(array) bounds top");
+        
+        layer.destroy();
+    }
+
+    function test_minExtent(t) {
+        t.plan(5);
+        
+        var layer = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS(
+            null, "http://example.com/wms", 
+            {layers: "foo"}, 
+            {minExtent: [-180, 0, 0, 90]}
+        );
+        
+        t.ok(layer.minExtent instanceof OpenLayers.Bounds, "(array) bounds instance");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.left, -180, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.bottom, 0, "(array) bounds left");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.right, 0, "(array) bounds right");
+        t.eq(layer.minExtent.top, 90, "(array) bounds top");
+        
+        layer.destroy();
+    }
+
     function test_tileOrigin(t) {
         t.plan(4);