diff --git a/mapwcs.c b/mapwcs.c
index ea7fb0752e..1395468bbb 100644
--- a/mapwcs.c
+++ b/mapwcs.c
@@ -1617,6 +1617,24 @@ this request. Check wcs/ows_enable_request settings.", "msWCSGetCoverage()", par
 
   /* make sure the layer is on */
   lp->status = MS_ON;
+  
+  /* If the layer has no projection set, set it to the map's projection (#4079) */
+  if(lp->projection.numargs <=0) {
+    char *map_original_srs = msGetProjectionString(&(map->projection));
+    if (msLoadProjectionString(&(lp->projection), map_original_srs) != 0) {
+      msSetError( MS_WCSERR, "Error when setting map projection to a layer with no projection", "msWCSGetCoverage()" );
+      return msWCSException(map, NULL, NULL, params->version);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /* If the layer has no projection set, set it to the map's projection (#4079) */
+  if(lp->projection.numargs <=0) {
+    char *map_original_srs = msGetProjectionString(&(map->projection));
+    if (msLoadProjectionString(&(lp->projection), map_original_srs) != 0) {
+      msSetError( MS_WCSERR, "Error when setting map projection to a layer with no projection", "msWCSGetCoverage()" );
+      return msWCSException(map, NULL, NULL, params->version);
+    }
+  }
 
   /* we need the coverage metadata, since things like numbands may not be available otherwise */
   status = msWCSGetCoverageMetadata(lp, &cm);