diff --git a/python/core/qgsmaplayer.sip b/python/core/qgsmaplayer.sip
index 20a0a167fba..3c706020b13 100644
--- a/python/core/qgsmaplayer.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgsmaplayer.sip
@@ -462,8 +462,10 @@ class QgsMapLayer : QObject
      * @param node node that will contain the style definition for this layer.
      * @param errorMessage reference to string that will be updated with any error messages
      * @return true in case of success.
+     * @note added in 2.16
+     * @note To be implemented in subclasses. Default implementation does nothing and returns false.
      */
-    virtual bool readStyle( const QDomNode& node, QString& errorMessage ) = 0;
+    virtual bool readStyle( const QDomNode& node, QString& errorMessage );
 
     /** Write the symbology for the layer into the docment provided.
      *  @param node the node that will have the style element added to it.
@@ -478,13 +480,17 @@ class QgsMapLayer : QObject
      *  @param doc the document that will have the QDomNode added.
      *  @param errorMessage reference to string that will be updated with any error messages
      *  @return true in case of success.
+     *  @note added in 2.16
+     *  @note To be implemented in subclasses. Default implementation does nothing and returns false.
      */
-    virtual bool writeStyle( QDomNode& node, QDomDocument& doc, QString& errorMessage ) const = 0;
+    virtual bool writeStyle( QDomNode& node, QDomDocument& doc, QString& errorMessage ) const;
 
     /** Return pointer to layer's undo stack */
     QUndoStack *undoStack();
 
-    /** Return pointer to layer's style undo stack */
+    /** Return pointer to layer's style undo stack
+     *  @note added in 2.16
+     */
     QUndoStack *undoStackStyles();
 
     /* Layer legendUrl information */
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp
index be922f0444a..801d3f52db3 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.cpp
@@ -1609,6 +1609,21 @@ QString QgsMapLayer::loadSldStyle( const QString &theURI, bool &theResultFlag )
   return "";
 }
 
+bool QgsMapLayer::readStyle( const QDomNode& node, QString& errorMessage )
+{
+  Q_UNUSED( node );
+  Q_UNUSED( errorMessage );
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool QgsMapLayer::writeStyle( QDomNode& node, QDomDocument& doc, QString& errorMessage ) const
+{
+  Q_UNUSED( node );
+  Q_UNUSED( doc );
+  Q_UNUSED( errorMessage );
+  return false;
+}
+
 
 QUndoStack* QgsMapLayer::undoStack()
 {
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
index 53b7117163c..a694e08cfe3 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
@@ -482,8 +482,10 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMapLayer : public QObject
      * @param node node that will contain the style definition for this layer.
      * @param errorMessage reference to string that will be updated with any error messages
      * @return true in case of success.
+     * @note added in 2.16
+     * @note To be implemented in subclasses. Default implementation does nothing and returns false.
      */
-    virtual bool readStyle( const QDomNode& node, QString& errorMessage ) = 0;
+    virtual bool readStyle( const QDomNode& node, QString& errorMessage );
 
     /** Write the symbology for the layer into the docment provided.
      *  @param node the node that will have the style element added to it.
@@ -498,13 +500,17 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMapLayer : public QObject
      *  @param doc the document that will have the QDomNode added.
      *  @param errorMessage reference to string that will be updated with any error messages
      *  @return true in case of success.
+     *  @note added in 2.16
+     *  @note To be implemented in subclasses. Default implementation does nothing and returns false.
      */
-    virtual bool writeStyle( QDomNode& node, QDomDocument& doc, QString& errorMessage ) const = 0;
+    virtual bool writeStyle( QDomNode& node, QDomDocument& doc, QString& errorMessage ) const;
 
     /** Return pointer to layer's undo stack */
     QUndoStack *undoStack();
 
-    /** Return pointer to layer's style undo stack */
+    /** Return pointer to layer's style undo stack
+     *  @note added in 2.16
+     */
     QUndoStack *undoStackStyles();
 
     /* Layer legendUrl information */