diff --git a/include/map.hpp b/include/map.hpp
index 9270d756f..f3e3cf9b4 100644
--- a/include/map.hpp
+++ b/include/map.hpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ namespace mapnik
 	size_t layerCount() const;
 	void addLayer(const Layer& l);
 	const Layer& getLayer(size_t index) const;
+	Layer& getLayer(size_t index);
 	void removeLayer(size_t index);
 	std::vector<Layer> const& layers() const;
 	unsigned getWidth() const;
diff --git a/src/map.cpp b/src/map.cpp
index 248a9a0f8..0c540bd0f 100644
--- a/src/map.cpp
+++ b/src/map.cpp
@@ -93,6 +93,13 @@ namespace mapnik
     {
         return layers_[index];
     }
+
+    Layer& Map::getLayer(size_t index)
+    {
+        return layers_[index];
+    }
+
+
     std::vector<Layer> const& Map::layers() const
     {
 	return layers_;