diff --git a/include/mapnik/rule.hpp b/include/mapnik/rule.hpp
index 3cebca33c..a0e1cca4c 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/rule.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/rule.hpp
@@ -168,7 +168,10 @@ public:
     bool has_else_filter() const;
     void set_also(bool also_filter);
     bool has_also_filter() const;
-    bool active(double scale) const;
+    inline bool active(double scale) const
+    {
+        return ( scale >= min_scale_ - 1e-6 && scale < max_scale_ + 1e-6 && !syms_.empty());
+    }
 
 private:
 
diff --git a/src/rule.cpp b/src/rule.cpp
index 32ba4d694..318feb205 100644
--- a/src/rule.cpp
+++ b/src/rule.cpp
@@ -266,9 +266,4 @@ bool rule::has_also_filter() const
     return also_filter_;
 }
 
-bool rule::active(double scale) const
-{
-    return ( !syms_.empty() && scale >= min_scale_ - 1e-6 && scale < max_scale_ + 1e-6);
-}
-
 }