diff --git a/src/resize.cc b/src/resize.cc
index 7b35e8e0..c4db61df 100755
--- a/src/resize.cc
+++ b/src/resize.cc
@@ -657,7 +657,10 @@ class ResizeWorker : public NanAsyncWorker {
     bool flip = FALSE;
     if (angle == -1) {
       const char *exif;
-      if (!vips_image_get_string(input, "exif-ifd0-Orientation", &exif)) {
+      if (
+        vips_image_get_typeof(input, "exif-ifd0-Orientation") != 0 &&
+        !vips_image_get_string(input, "exif-ifd0-Orientation", &exif)
+      ) {
         if (exif[0] == 0x36) { // "6"
           rotate = ANGLE_90;
         } else if (exif[0] == 0x33) { // "3"
diff --git a/test/unit/rotate.js b/test/unit/rotate.js
index ae1af86f..03413f67 100755
--- a/test/unit/rotate.js
+++ b/test/unit/rotate.js
@@ -68,6 +68,21 @@ describe('Rotation', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  it('Attempt to auto-rotate image format without EXIF support', function(done) {
+    sharp(fixtures.inputGif)
+      .rotate()
+      .resize(320)
+      .jpeg()
+      .toBuffer(function(err, data, info) {
+        if (err) throw err;
+        assert.strictEqual(true, data.length > 0);
+        assert.strictEqual('jpeg', info.format);
+        assert.strictEqual(320, info.width);
+        assert.strictEqual(213, info.height);
+        done();
+      });
+  });
+
   it('Rotate to an invalid angle, should fail', function(done) {
     var fail = false;
     try {