diff --git a/src/tiledimage.js b/src/tiledimage.js
index d9067229..f6337c59 100644
--- a/src/tiledimage.js
+++ b/src/tiledimage.js
@@ -163,10 +163,13 @@ $.TiledImage = function( options ) {
         crossOriginPolicy:      $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.crossOriginPolicy,
         placeholderFillStyle:   $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.placeholderFillStyle,
         opacity:                $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.opacity,
-        _preload:               $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.preload,
+        preload:                $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.preload,
         compositeOperation:     $.DEFAULT_SETTINGS.compositeOperation
     }, options );
 
+    this._preload = this.preload;
+    delete this.preload;
+
     this._fullyLoaded = false;
 
     this._xSpring = new $.Spring({