diff --git a/gdalgeometry.cpp b/gdalgeometry.cpp
index 8fe25318..9164a4d0 100644
--- a/gdalgeometry.cpp
+++ b/gdalgeometry.cpp
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ Layer::~Layer()
     }
 }
 
-Layer& Layer::operator=(Layer&& other)
+Layer& Layer::operator=(Layer&& other) noexcept
 {
     _layer       = other._layer;
     other._layer = nullptr;
@@ -622,23 +622,41 @@ std::optional<int32_t> Layer::epsg() const
     return std::optional<int32_t>();
 }
 
-void Layer::set_projection(SpatialReference& srs)
+void Layer::set_active_projection(SpatialReference& srs)
 {
     const int geomCount = _layer->GetLayerDefn()->GetGeomFieldCount();
     for (int i = 0; i < geomCount; ++i) {
-        _layer->GetLayerDefn()->GetGeomFieldDefn(i)->SetSpatialRef(srs.get());
+        check_error(_layer->SetActiveSRS(i, srs.get()), "Failed to set the active projection");
     }
 }
 
-void Layer::set_projection_from_epsg(int32_t epsg)
+void Layer::set_active_projection_from_epsg(int32_t epsg)
 {
     SpatialReference srs(epsg);
+    set_active_projection(srs);
+}
+
+void Layer::set_projection(SpatialReference& srs)
+{
     const int geomCount = _layer->GetLayerDefn()->GetGeomFieldCount();
+
+    if (_layer->TestCapability(OLCAlterGeomFieldDefn) == 0) {
+        throw RuntimeError("Layer does not support altering geometry field definitions");
+    }
+
     for (int i = 0; i < geomCount; ++i) {
-        _layer->GetLayerDefn()->GetGeomFieldDefn(i)->SetSpatialRef(srs.get());
+        OGRGeomFieldDefn def(_layer->GetLayerDefn()->GetGeomFieldDefn(i));
+        def.SetSpatialRef(srs.get());
+        check_error(_layer->AlterGeomFieldDefn(i, &def, ALTER_GEOM_FIELD_DEFN_SRS_FLAG), "Failed to alter geometry field");
     }
 }
 
+void Layer::set_projection_from_epsg(int32_t epsg)
+{
+    SpatialReference srs(epsg);
+    set_projection(srs);
+}
+
 std::optional<SpatialReference> Layer::projection() const
 {
     if (auto* srs = _layer->GetSpatialRef(); srs != nullptr) {
diff --git a/include/infra/gdalgeometry.h b/include/infra/gdalgeometry.h
index ad1e7f31..0ba798b5 100644
--- a/include/infra/gdalgeometry.h
+++ b/include/infra/gdalgeometry.h
@@ -1032,10 +1032,15 @@ class Layer
     Layer(Layer&&);
     ~Layer();
 
-    Layer& operator=(Layer&&);
+    Layer& operator=(Layer&&) noexcept;
     Layer& operator=(const Layer&);
 
     std::optional<int32_t> epsg() const;
+
+    // Changes the layers project while working with but will not persist this change after reopening the layer
+    void set_active_projection(SpatialReference& srs);
+    void set_active_projection_from_epsg(int32_t epsg);
+
     //! Make sure the spatial reference stays in scope while using the layer!
     void set_projection(SpatialReference& srs);
     void set_projection_from_epsg(int32_t epsg);