Index: Core/Components/src/Core.Components.DotSpatial.Forms/MapControl.cs
===================================================================
diff -u -reada3ba8d4d1b06b3039918f8d0ad9f9789ab374 -r6a35abf87333a0765bcd906766fe9c6c82d4cca8
--- Core/Components/src/Core.Components.DotSpatial.Forms/MapControl.cs	(.../MapControl.cs)	(revision eada3ba8d4d1b06b3039918f8d0ad9f9789ab374)
+++ Core/Components/src/Core.Components.DotSpatial.Forms/MapControl.cs	(.../MapControl.cs)	(revision 6a35abf87333a0765bcd906766fe9c6c82d4cca8)
@@ -117,7 +117,10 @@
 
                 backgroundMapData = value;
                 backGroundMapDataObserver.Observable = backgroundMapData;
-                backgroundLayerStatus = BackgroundLayerStatusFactory.CreateBackgroundLayerStatus(backgroundMapData);
+                if (backgroundMapData != null)
+                {
+                    backgroundLayerStatus = BackgroundLayerStatusFactory.CreateBackgroundLayerStatus(backgroundMapData);
+                }
 
                 if (HasMapData)
                 {