diff --git a/pywt/_multidim.py b/pywt/_multidim.py
index c01a58fe..1cc54b23 100644
--- a/pywt/_multidim.py
+++ b/pywt/_multidim.py
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ def idwt2(coeffs, wavelet, mode='symmetric', axes=(-2, -1)):
     ----------
     coeffs : tuple
         (cA, (cH, cV, cD)) A tuple with approximation coefficients and three
-        details coefficients 2D arrays like from `dwt2()`
+        details coefficients 2D arrays like from `dwt2()`.  If any of these
+        components are set to ``None``, it will be treated as zeros.
     wavelet : Wavelet object or name string, or 2-tuple of wavelets
         Wavelet to use.  This can also be a tuple containing a wavelet to
         apply along each axis in ``axes``.
@@ -113,10 +114,6 @@ def idwt2(coeffs, wavelet, mode='symmetric', axes=(-2, -1)):
         raise ValueError("Expected 2 axes")
 
     coeffs = {'aa': LL, 'da': HL, 'ad': LH, 'dd': HH}
-
-    # drop the keys corresponding to value = None
-    coeffs = dict((k, v) for k, v in coeffs.items() if v is not None)
-
     return idwtn(coeffs, wavelet, mode, axes)
 
 
@@ -224,8 +221,8 @@ def idwtn(coeffs, wavelet, mode='symmetric', axes=None):
     Parameters
     ----------
     coeffs: dict
-        Dictionary as in output of `dwtn`. Missing or None items
-        will be treated as zeroes.
+        Dictionary as in output of ``dwtn``. Missing or ``None`` items
+        will be treated as zeros.
     wavelet : Wavelet object or name string, or tuple of wavelets
         Wavelet to use.  This can also be a tuple containing a wavelet to
         apply along each axis in ``axes``.
@@ -247,6 +244,10 @@ def idwtn(coeffs, wavelet, mode='symmetric', axes=None):
         Original signal reconstructed from input data.
 
     """
+
+    # drop the keys corresponding to value = None
+    coeffs = dict((k, v) for k, v in coeffs.items() if v is not None)
+
     # Raise error for invalid key combinations
     coeffs = _fix_coeffs(coeffs)
 
diff --git a/pywt/tests/test_multidim.py b/pywt/tests/test_multidim.py
index 6ddcd9bb..c9668ab0 100644
--- a/pywt/tests/test_multidim.py
+++ b/pywt/tests/test_multidim.py
@@ -196,10 +196,6 @@ def test_error_on_invalid_keys():
     d = {'aa': LL, 'da': HL, 'ad': LH, 'dd': HH, 'ff': LH}
     assert_raises(ValueError, pywt.idwtn, d, wavelet)
 
-    # a key whose value is None
-    d = {'aa': LL, 'da': HL, 'ad': LH, 'dd': None}
-    assert_raises(ValueError, pywt.idwtn, d, wavelet)
-
     # mismatched key lengths
     d = {'a': LL, 'da': HL, 'ad': LH, 'dd': HH}
     assert_raises(ValueError, pywt.idwtn, d, wavelet)
@@ -268,6 +264,40 @@ def test_idwtn_axes():
     assert_allclose(pywt.idwtn(coefs, 'haar', axes=(1, 1)), data, atol=1e-14)
 
 
+def test_idwt2_none_coeffs():
+    data = np.array([[0, 1, 2, 3],
+                     [1, 1, 1, 1],
+                     [1, 4, 2, 8]])
+    data = data + 1j*data  # test with complex data
+    cA, (cH, cV, cD) = pywt.dwt2(data, 'haar', axes=(1, 1))
+
+    # verify setting coefficients to None is the same as zeroing them
+    cD = np.zeros_like(cD)
+    result_zeros = pywt.idwt2((cA, (cH, cV, cD)), 'haar', axes=(1, 1))
+
+    cD = None
+    result_none = pywt.idwt2((cA, (cH, cV, cD)), 'haar', axes=(1, 1))
+
+    assert_equal(result_zeros, result_none)
+
+
+def test_idwtn_none_coeffs():
+    data = np.array([[0, 1, 2, 3],
+                     [1, 1, 1, 1],
+                     [1, 4, 2, 8]])
+    data = data + 1j*data  # test with complex data
+    coefs = pywt.dwtn(data, 'haar', axes=(1, 1))
+
+    # verify setting coefficients to None is the same as zeroing them
+    coefs['dd'] = np.zeros_like(coefs['dd'])
+    result_zeros = pywt.idwtn(coefs, 'haar', axes=(1, 1))
+
+    coefs['dd'] = None
+    result_none = pywt.idwtn(coefs, 'haar', axes=(1, 1))
+
+    assert_equal(result_zeros, result_none)
+
+
 def test_idwt2_axes():
     data = np.array([[0, 1, 2, 3],
                      [1, 1, 1, 1],