diff --git a/include/mapnik/json/generic_json.hpp b/include/mapnik/json/generic_json.hpp
index 4b812700d..9a70237bc 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/json/generic_json.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/json/generic_json.hpp
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ using json_value_base = mapnik::util::variant<value_null,
                                               value_integer,
                                               value_double,
                                               std::string,
-                                              mapnik::util::recursive_wrapper<json_array>,
-                                              mapnik::util::recursive_wrapper<json_object> >;
+                                              json_array,
+                                              json_object>;
 struct json_value : json_value_base
 {
 #if __cpp_inheriting_constructors >= 200802