diff --git a/src/napari_matplotlib/base.py b/src/napari_matplotlib/base.py
index f3da9081..b4d8c7cf 100644
--- a/src/napari_matplotlib/base.py
+++ b/src/napari_matplotlib/base.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Tuple
+from typing import List, Tuple
 
 import matplotlib as mpl
 import napari
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def __init__(self, napari_viewer: napari.viewer.Viewer):
         self.layout().addWidget(self.canvas)
 
         self.setup_callbacks()
+        self.layers: List[napari.layers.Layer] = []
 
     # Accept any number of input layers by default
     n_layers_input = Interval(None, None)