diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index c86f1fc..d01565e 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #### v1.2.0
 
 + Use `constructor.defaults` for default options
++ add `needsResizeLayout()` for [#9](https://github.com/metafizzy/outlayer/issues/9)
 
 ### v1.1
 
diff --git a/outlayer.js b/outlayer.js
index 5084c77..0a6c04c 100644
--- a/outlayer.js
+++ b/outlayer.js
@@ -676,17 +676,25 @@ Outlayer.prototype.onresize = function() {
 // debounced, layout on resize
 Outlayer.prototype.resize = function() {
   // don't trigger if size did not change
-  var size = getSize( this.element );
-  // check that this.size and size are there
-  // IE8 triggers resize on body size change, so they might not be
-  var hasSizes = this.size && size;
-  if ( hasSizes && size.innerWidth === this.size.innerWidth ) {
+  // or if resize was unbound. See #9
+  if ( !this.isResizeBound || !this.needsResizeLayout() ) {
     return;
   }
 
   this.layout();
 };
 
+/**
+ * check if layout is needed post layout
+ * @returns Boolean
+ */
+Outlayer.prototype.needsResizeLayout = function() {
+  var size = getSize( this.element );
+  // check that this.size and size are there
+  // IE8 triggers resize on body size change, so they might not be
+  var hasSizes = this.size && size;
+  return hasSizes && size.innerWidth !== this.size.innerWidth;
+};
 
 // -------------------------- methods -------------------------- //
 
diff --git a/test/destroy.js b/test/destroy.js
index d100bae..b01641b 100644
--- a/test/destroy.js
+++ b/test/destroy.js
@@ -24,4 +24,14 @@ test( 'destroy', function() {
     checkStyle( itemElem, 'top' );
   }
 
+  // try to force a resize
+  container.style.width = '300px';
+  layout.resize();
+
+  checkStyle( container, 'height' );
+  checkStyle( container, 'position' );
+  checkStyle( items[0], 'position' );
+  checkStyle( items[0], 'left' );
+  checkStyle( items[0], 'top' );
+
 });