diff --git a/ui/styling/background.ios.ts b/ui/styling/background.ios.ts
index fb087c0df..6dcff162a 100644
--- a/ui/styling/background.ios.ts
+++ b/ui/styling/background.ios.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export module ios {
         if(!view._nativeView){
             return undefined;
         }
-
+        ensureStyle();
         var background = <common.Background> view.style._getValue(style.backgroundInternalProperty);
 
         if (!background || background.isEmpty()) {