diff --git a/src/node_map.cpp b/src/node_map.cpp
index 9a21decd5..e8dc28110 100644
--- a/src/node_map.cpp
+++ b/src/node_map.cpp
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ NAN_METHOD(NodeMap::Load) {
 
     if (!nodeMap->isValid()) return NanThrowError(releasedMessage());
 
+    // Reset the flag as this could be the second time
+    // we are calling this (being the previous successful).
+    nodeMap->loaded = false;
+
     if (args.Length() < 1) {
         return NanThrowError("Requires a map style as first argument");
     }
@@ -122,6 +126,8 @@ NAN_METHOD(NodeMap::Load) {
         return NanThrowError(ex.what());
     }
 
+    nodeMap->loaded = true;
+
     NanReturnUndefined();
 }
 
@@ -168,6 +174,10 @@ NAN_METHOD(NodeMap::Render) {
         return NanThrowTypeError("Second argument must be a callback function");
     }
 
+    if (!nodeMap->isLoaded()) {
+        return NanThrowTypeError("Style is not loaded");
+    }
+
     auto options = ParseOptions(args[0]->ToObject());
 
     assert(!nodeMap->callback);
diff --git a/src/node_map.hpp b/src/node_map.hpp
index bb238ea88..d442d93bb 100644
--- a/src/node_map.hpp
+++ b/src/node_map.hpp
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ public:
     void renderFinished();
 
     void release();
+
+    inline bool isLoaded() { return loaded; }
     inline bool isValid() { return valid; }
 
     static std::unique_ptr<NodeMap::RenderOptions> ParseOptions(v8::Local<v8::Object> obj);
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ private:
     // Async for delivering the notifications of render completion.
     uv_async_t *async;
 
+    bool loaded = false;
     bool valid = true;
 };