diff --git a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py
index 4d3cd6ff..b982e2b7 100644
--- a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py
+++ b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py
@@ -397,4 +397,6 @@ def imread(filename, as_grey=False, dtype=None):
     return read(filename)
 
 def imsave(filename, arr):
-    write(filename, arr)
+    if arr.ndim == 3:
+        arr = numpy.rollaxis(arr, 2, 0)
+    write(arr, filename)