diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h
index 8703ac2c1a..201ef2170f 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.h
@@ -48,10 +48,9 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 @property (nonatomic, weak) id <MKMapViewDelegate> mapDelegate;
 
 /**
- * @discussion This method sets the annotations of the static map view and also to the live map view. Passing an empty array clears the map of any annotations.
- * @param annotations An array of objects that conform to the MKAnnotation protocol
+ * @abstract The annotations to display on the map.
  */
-- (void)setAnnotations:(NSArray<id<MKAnnotation>> *)annotations;
+@property (nonatomic, copy) NSArray<id<MKAnnotation>> *annotations;
 
 @end
 
diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm
index c2af85c2e7..e7ec4cab2b 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASMapNode.mm
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
   _needsMapReloadOnBoundsChange = YES;
   _liveMap = NO;
   _centerCoordinateOfMap = kCLLocationCoordinate2DInvalid;
+  _annotations = @[];
   return self;
 }
 
@@ -251,10 +252,18 @@
   _mapView = nil;
 }
 
-- (void)setAnnotations:(NSArray *)annotations
+- (NSArray *)annotations
 {
   ASDN::MutexLocker l(_propertyLock);
-  _annotations = [annotations copy];
+  return _annotations;
+}
+
+- (void)setAnnotations:(NSArray *)annotations
+{
+  annotations = [annotations copy] ?: @[];
+
+  ASDN::MutexLocker l(_propertyLock);
+  _annotations = annotations;
   if (self.isLiveMap) {
     [_mapView removeAnnotations:_mapView.annotations];
     [_mapView addAnnotations:annotations];