diff --git a/utils/mapnik-config/SConscript b/utils/mapnik-config/SConscript
index 59b1623ab..6c12a6b5d 100644
--- a/utils/mapnik-config/SConscript
+++ b/utils/mapnik-config/SConscript
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ if env['SYSTEM_FONTS']:
     fonts = os.path.normpath(env['SYSTEM_FONTS'])
 else:
     fonts = os.path.normpath(install_prefix + '/' + env['LIBDIR_SCHEMA'] + env['LIB_DIR_NAME'] + '/fonts')
-
+svn_revision = env['SVN_REVISION']
 
 filesystem = 'boost_filesystem%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
 regex = 'boost_regex%s' % env['BOOST_APPEND']
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ other_libs='%(other_libs)s'
 other_includes='%(other_includes)s'
 fonts='%(fonts)s'
 input_plugins='%(input_plugins)s'
+svn_revision='%(svn_revision)s'
 ''' % locals()
 
 
diff --git a/utils/mapnik-config/mapnik-config.template b/utils/mapnik-config/mapnik-config.template
index 712d5c4d1..a2f2c2a09 100755
--- a/utils/mapnik-config/mapnik-config.template
+++ b/utils/mapnik-config/mapnik-config.template
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ Known values for OPTION are:
   --fonts           print default fonts directory
   --input-plugins   print default input plugins directory
   --help            display this help and exit
-  -v --version         output version information
+  -v --version      output version information
+  --svn-revision    output svn revision information
 EOF
 
     exit $1
@@ -63,6 +64,11 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
       exit 0
       ;;
 
+    --svn-revision)
+      echo ${svn_revision}
+      exit 0
+      ;;
+
     --help)
       usage 0
       ;;