diff --git a/include/mapnik/markers_symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/markers_symbolizer.hpp
index b6e78a8c2..ccd249da9 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/markers_symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/markers_symbolizer.hpp
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ public:
     explicit markers_symbolizer();
     markers_symbolizer(path_expression_ptr filename);
     markers_symbolizer(markers_symbolizer const& rhs);
+    void set_ignore_placement(bool ignore_placement);
+    bool get_ignore_placement() const;
     void set_allow_overlap(bool overlap);
     bool get_allow_overlap() const;
     void set_spacing(double spacing);
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@ public:
     marker_type_e get_marker_type() const;
 
 private:
+    bool ignore_placement_;
     bool allow_overlap_;
     color fill_;
     double spacing_;
diff --git a/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp
index 57a01448e..ae7725bf1 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_markers_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -244,7 +244,8 @@ void agg_renderer<T>::process(markers_symbolizer const& sym,
                         ren.color(agg::rgba8(s_r, s_g, s_b, int(s_a*stroke_.get_opacity())));
                         agg::render_scanlines(*ras_ptr, sl_line, ren);
                     }
-                    detector_->insert(label_ext);
+                    if (!sym.get_ignore_placement())
+                        detector_->insert(label_ext);
                     if (writer.first) writer.first->add_box(label_ext, *feature, t_, writer.second);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/load_map.cpp b/src/load_map.cpp
index 2f77db471..38bcfbff7 100644
--- a/src/load_map.cpp
+++ b/src/load_map.cpp
@@ -896,7 +896,9 @@ void map_parser::parse_markers_symbolizer(rule & rule, xml_node const& sym)
         optional<double> max_error = sym.get_opt_attr<double>("max-error");
         if (max_error) symbol.set_max_error(*max_error);
         optional<boolean> allow_overlap = sym.get_opt_attr<boolean>("allow-overlap");
+        optional<boolean> ignore_placement = sym.get_opt_attr<boolean>("ignore-placement");
         if (allow_overlap) symbol.set_allow_overlap(*allow_overlap);
+        if (ignore_placement) symbol.set_ignore_placement(*ignore_placement);
 
         optional<double> w = sym.get_opt_attr<double>("width");
         optional<double> h = sym.get_opt_attr<double>("height");
diff --git a/src/markers_symbolizer.cpp b/src/markers_symbolizer.cpp
index 02afffdd4..a2ccd70ab 100644
--- a/src/markers_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/markers_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ markers_symbolizer::markers_symbolizer()
 : symbolizer_with_image(path_expression_ptr(new path_expression)),
     symbolizer_base(),
     allow_overlap_(false),
+    ignore_placement_(false),
     fill_(color(0,0,255)),
     spacing_(100.0),
     max_error_(0.2),
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ markers_symbolizer::markers_symbolizer(path_expression_ptr filename)
     : symbolizer_with_image(filename),
       symbolizer_base(),
       allow_overlap_(false),
+      ignore_placement_(false),
       fill_(color(0,0,255)),
       spacing_(100.0),
       max_error_(0.2),
@@ -73,6 +75,7 @@ markers_symbolizer::markers_symbolizer(markers_symbolizer const& rhs)
     : symbolizer_with_image(rhs),
       symbolizer_base(rhs),
       allow_overlap_(rhs.allow_overlap_),
+      ignore_placement_(rhs.ignore_placement_),
       fill_(rhs.fill_),
       spacing_(rhs.spacing_),
       max_error_(rhs.max_error_),
@@ -82,6 +85,16 @@ markers_symbolizer::markers_symbolizer(markers_symbolizer const& rhs)
       marker_p_(rhs.marker_p_),
       marker_type_(rhs.marker_type_) {}
 
+void markers_symbolizer::set_ignore_placement(bool ignore_placement)
+{
+    ignore_placement_ = ignore_placement;
+}
+
+bool markers_symbolizer::get_ignore_placement() const
+{
+    return ignore_placement_;
+}
+
 void markers_symbolizer::set_allow_overlap(bool overlap)
 {
     allow_overlap_ = overlap;