diff --git a/src/core.jl b/src/core.jl
index 3dd35e6d..dfda25f4 100644
--- a/src/core.jl
+++ b/src/core.jl
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ ndims(img::AbstractImage) = ndims(img.data)
 
 strides(img::AbstractImage) = strides(img.data)
 
-copy(img::Image) = Image(copy(img.data), deepcopy(img.properties))
-copy(img::ImageCmap) = ImageCmap(copy(img.data), copy(img.cmap), deepcopy(img.properties))
+copy(img::Image) = Image(copy(img.data), deepcopy(img.properties)::typeof(img.properties))  # see issue #356
+copy(img::ImageCmap) = ImageCmap(copy(img.data), copy(img.cmap), deepcopy(img.properties)::typeof(img.properties))
 
 # Create a new "Image" (could be just an Array) copying the properties but replacing the data
 copyproperties(img::AbstractArray, data::AbstractArray) = data
diff --git a/test/core.jl b/test/core.jl
index e3879214..db0fb8d6 100644
--- a/test/core.jl
+++ b/test/core.jl
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ if testing_units
 end
 
 facts("Core") do
+    a = rand(3,3)
+    @inferred(Image(a))
+
     # support integer-valued types, but these are NOT recommended (use Ufixed)
     B = rand(convert(UInt16, 1):convert(UInt16, 20), 3, 5)
     # img, imgd, and imgds will be used in many more tests
@@ -127,7 +130,7 @@ facts("Core") do
 
     context("Copy / similar") do
         A = randn(3,5,3)
-        imgc = copy(img)
+        imgc = @inferred(copy(img))
         @fact imgc.data --> img.data
         imgc = copyproperties(imgd, A)
         @fact imgc.data --> A