diff --git a/js/id/renderer/background.js b/js/id/renderer/background.js
index ddee41351..cdaf7607f 100644
--- a/js/id/renderer/background.js
+++ b/js/id/renderer/background.js
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ iD.Background = function(context) {
     background.updateImagery = function() {
         var b = background.baseLayerSource(),
             o = overlayLayers.map(function (d) { return d.source().id; }).join(','),
+            meters = iD.geo.offsetToMeters(b.offset()),
+            epsilon = 0.01,
+            x = +meters[0].toFixed(2),
+            y = +meters[1].toFixed(2),
             q = iD.util.stringQs(location.hash.substring(1));
 
         var id = b.id;
@@ -60,6 +64,12 @@ iD.Background = function(context) {
             delete q.overlays;
         }
 
+        if (Math.abs(x) > epsilon || Math.abs(y) > epsilon) {
+            q.offset = x + ',' + y;
+        } else {
+            delete q.offset;
+        }
+
         location.replace('#' + iD.util.qsString(q, true));
 
         var imageryUsed = [b.imageryUsed()];
@@ -95,11 +105,9 @@ iD.Background = function(context) {
 
     background.baseLayerSource = function(d) {
         if (!arguments.length) return baseLayer.source();
-
         baseLayer.source(d);
         dispatch.change();
         background.updateImagery();
-
         return background;
     };
 
@@ -143,6 +151,7 @@ iD.Background = function(context) {
     background.nudge = function(d, zoom) {
         baseLayer.source().nudge(d, zoom);
         dispatch.change();
+        background.updateImagery();
         return background;
     };
 
@@ -150,6 +159,7 @@ iD.Background = function(context) {
         if (!arguments.length) return baseLayer.source().offset();
         baseLayer.source().offset(d);
         dispatch.change();
+        background.updateImagery();
         return background;
     };