diff --git a/include/mapnik/svg/svg_parser.hpp b/include/mapnik/svg/svg_parser.hpp
index db0e2fe9c..b3e118984 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/svg/svg_parser.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/svg/svg_parser.hpp
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ class MAPNIK_DECL svg_parser : private util::noncopyable
     bool strict_;
     bool ignore_;
     bool css_style_;
+    bool dimensions_ = false;
     std::map<std::string, gradient> gradient_map_;
     std::map<std::string, boost::property_tree::detail::rapidxml::xml_node<char> const*> node_cache_;
     mapnik::css_data css_data_;
diff --git a/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp b/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
index 829dd326c..fb7efa285 100644
--- a/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
+++ b/src/svg/svg_parser.cpp
@@ -1000,7 +1000,11 @@ void parse_dimensions(svg_parser& parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)
         parser.path_.set_dimensions(0, 0);
         return;
     }
-    parser.path_.set_dimensions(width, height);
+    if (!parser.dimensions_)
+    {
+        parser.dimensions_ = true;
+        parser.path_.set_dimensions(width, height);
+    }
 }
 
 void parse_path(svg_parser& parser, rapidxml::xml_node<char> const* node)