diff --git a/spec/Layers/RasterLayerSpec.js b/spec/Layers/RasterLayerSpec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd85fcc35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/Layers/RasterLayerSpec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+/* eslint-env mocha */
+/* eslint-disable handle-callback-err */
+describe('L.esri.RasterLayer', function () {
+  it('should not error when calling setOpacity when _currentImage is null', function () {
+    var layer = new L.esri.RasterLayer();
+    layer._currentImage = null;
+    expect(function () { layer.setOpacity(0.5); }).to.not.throw();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/Layers/RasterLayer.js b/src/Layers/RasterLayer.js
index 96d50acff..a0abe4e78 100644
--- a/src/Layers/RasterLayer.js
+++ b/src/Layers/RasterLayer.js
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ export var RasterLayer = L.Layer.extend({
 
   setOpacity: function (opacity) {
     this.options.opacity = opacity;
-    this._currentImage.setOpacity(opacity);
+    if (this._currentImage) {
+      this._currentImage.setOpacity(opacity);
+    }
     return this;
   },