diff --git a/src/static_canvas.class.js b/src/static_canvas.class.js
index 9a60e1a6..412d81ce 100644
--- a/src/static_canvas.class.js
+++ b/src/static_canvas.class.js
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@
     __setBgOverlayImage: function(property, image, callback, options) {
       if (typeof image === 'string') {
         fabric.util.loadImage(image, function(img) {
-          this[property] = new fabric.Image(img, options);
+          img && (this[property] = new fabric.Image(img, options));
           callback && callback(img);
         }, this, options && options.crossOrigin);
       }
diff --git a/test/unit/canvas_static.js b/test/unit/canvas_static.js
index a2caec79..986024a6 100644
--- a/test/unit/canvas_static.js
+++ b/test/unit/canvas_static.js
@@ -1217,6 +1217,18 @@
     });
   });
 
+  //how to test with an exception?
+  /*asyncTest('options in setBackgroundImage from invalid URL', function() {
+    canvas.backgroundImage = null;
+    canvas.setBackgroundImage(IMG_SRC + '_not_exist', function() {
+      equal(canvas.backgroundImage, null);
+      start();
+    }, {
+      left: 50,
+      originX: 'right'
+    });
+  });*/
+
   asyncTest('options in setBackgroundImage from image instance', function() {
     createImageObject(function(imageInstance) {
       canvas.setBackgroundImage(imageInstance, function() {