diff --git a/lib/torque/leaflet/canvas_layer.js b/lib/torque/leaflet/canvas_layer.js
index 0b6810e..885320d 100644
--- a/lib/torque/leaflet/canvas_layer.js
+++ b/lib/torque/leaflet/canvas_layer.js
@@ -21,12 +21,18 @@ L.CanvasLayer = L.Class.extend({
       tileLoader: false // installs tile loading events
   },
 
-  initialize: function (options) { 
+  initialize: function (options) {
     var self = this;
+    options = options || {};
     //this.project = this._project.bind(this);
     this.render = this.render.bind(this);
     L.Util.setOptions(this, options);
     this._canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
+    this._canvas.style.position = 'absolute';
+    this._canvas.style.top = 0;
+    this._canvas.style.left = 0;
+    this._canvas.style.zIndex = options.zIndex || 0;
+
     this._ctx = this._canvas.getContext('2d');
     var requestAnimationFrame = window.requestAnimationFrame || window.mozRequestAnimationFrame ||
                                 window.webkitRequestAnimationFrame || window.msRequestAnimationFrame || function(callback) {
@@ -38,7 +44,11 @@ L.CanvasLayer = L.Class.extend({
   onAdd: function (map) {
     this._map = map;
 
-    this._staticPane = map._createPane('leaflet-tile-pane', map._container);
+    //this._staticPane = map._createPane('leaflet-tile-pane', map._container);
+    if (!map._panes.staticPane) {
+      map._panes.staticPane = map._createPane('leaflet-tile-pane', map._container);
+    }
+    this._staticPane = map._panes.staticPane
     this._staticPane.appendChild(this._canvas);
 
     map.on({
@@ -88,6 +98,10 @@ L.CanvasLayer = L.Class.extend({
     return this;
   },
 
+  setZIndex: function(zIndex) {
+    this._canvas.style.zIndex = zIndex;
+  },
+
   bringToFront: function () {
     return this;
   },