diff --git a/isotope.js b/isotope.js
index de2bd01..3da2b6b 100644
--- a/isotope.js
+++ b/isotope.js
@@ -187,19 +187,31 @@ function isotopeDefinition( Outlayer, getSize, matchesSelector, Item ) {
   // -------------------------- methods -------------------------- //
 
   Isotope.prototype._resetLayout = function() {
-    this._mode()._resetLayout();
+    this._modeMethod( '_resetLayout', arguments );
   };
 
-  Isotope.prototype._getItemLayoutPosition = function( item ) {
-    return this._mode()._getItemLayoutPosition( item );
+  Isotope.prototype._getItemLayoutPosition = function( /* item  */) {
+    return this._modeMethod( '_getItemLayoutPosition', arguments );
   };
 
-  Isotope.prototype._manageStamp = function( stamp ) {
-    this._mode()._manageStamp( stamp );
+  Isotope.prototype._manageStamp = function(/* stamp */) {
+    this._modeMethod( '_manageStamp', arguments );
   };
 
   Isotope.prototype._getContainerSize = function() {
-    return this._mode()._getContainerSize();
+    return this._modeMethod( '_getContainerSize', arguments );
+  };
+
+  Isotope.prototype._modeMethod = function( methodName, args ) {
+    var mode = this._mode();
+    var modeMethod = mode[ methodName ];
+    // use mode's method, if there
+    if ( modeMethod ) {
+      return modeMethod.apply( mode, args );
+    } else {
+      // otherwise, default to Outlayer prototype
+      return Outlayer.prototype[ methodName ].apply( this, args );
+    }
   };
 
   return Isotope;
diff --git a/layout-mode.js b/layout-mode.js
index fe05e6e..f93bdd0 100644
--- a/layout-mode.js
+++ b/layout-mode.js
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 // --------------------------  -------------------------- //
 
 var Isotope = window.Isotope;
-var Outlayer = window.Outlayer;
 
 function LayoutMode( isotope ) {
   this.isotope = isotope;
@@ -13,23 +12,6 @@ function LayoutMode( isotope ) {
   this.options = isotope && isotope.options[ this.namespace ];
 }
 
-// default methods just defer to Isotope
-LayoutMode.prototype._resetLayout = function() {
-  Outlayer.prototype._resetLayout.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
-};
-
-LayoutMode.prototype._getItemLayoutPosition = function() {
-  return Outlayer.prototype._getItemLayoutPosition.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
-};
-
-LayoutMode.prototype._manageStamp = function() {
-  Outlayer.prototype._manageStamp.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
-};
-
-LayoutMode.prototype._getContainerSize = function() {
-  return Outlayer.prototype._getContainerSize.apply( this.isotope, arguments );
-};
-
 // -------------------------- create -------------------------- //
 
 LayoutMode.create = function( namespace, options ) {