diff --git a/spec/suites/layer/TooltipSpec.js b/spec/suites/layer/TooltipSpec.js
index f32e3fe9..b049d81c 100644
--- a/spec/suites/layer/TooltipSpec.js
+++ b/spec/suites/layer/TooltipSpec.js
@@ -287,5 +287,11 @@ describe('Tooltip', function () {
 		map.openTooltip('Tooltip', center);
 	});
 
+	it("can call closeTooltip while not on the map", function () {
+		var layer = new L.Marker(center);
+		layer.bindTooltip('Tooltip', {interactive: true});
+		layer.closeTooltip();
+	});
+
 });
 
diff --git a/src/layer/Layer.Tooltip.js b/src/layer/Layer.Tooltip.js
index 50710ad9..09c5a151 100644
--- a/src/layer/Layer.Tooltip.js
+++ b/src/layer/Layer.Tooltip.js
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ L.Layer.include({
 	closeTooltip: function () {
 		if (this._tooltip) {
 			this._tooltip._close();
-			if (this._tooltip.options.interactive) {
+			if (this._tooltip.options.interactive && this._tooltip._container) {
 				L.DomUtil.removeClass(this._tooltip._container, 'leaflet-clickable');
 				this.removeInteractiveTarget(this._tooltip._container);
 			}