diff --git a/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
index 222f577a9..411db5b42 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ void agg_renderer<T0, T1>::process(shield_symbolizer const& sym,
     const auto transform = get_optional<transform_type>(sym, keys::geometry_transform);
     if (transform)
         evaluate_transform(tr, feature, common_.vars_, *transform, common_.scale_factor_);
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     const text_symbolizer_helper helper(sym,
                                         feature,
                                         common_.vars_,
diff --git a/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
index 54bb45660..758e6c11c 100644
--- a/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/agg/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ void agg_renderer<T0, T1>::process(text_symbolizer const& sym,
     const auto transform = get_optional<transform_type>(sym, keys::geometry_transform);
     if (transform)
         evaluate_transform(tr, feature, common_.vars_, *transform, common_.scale_factor_);
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     const text_symbolizer_helper helper(sym,
                                         feature,
                                         common_.vars_,
diff --git a/src/cairo/process_text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/cairo/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
index fd74360fd..0c00e6f4b 100644
--- a/src/cairo/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/cairo/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ void cairo_renderer<T>::process(shield_symbolizer const& sym,
     auto transform = get_optional<transform_type>(sym, keys::geometry_transform);
     if (transform)
         evaluate_transform(tr, feature, common_.vars_, *transform, common_.scale_factor_);
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     text_symbolizer_helper helper(sym,
                                   feature,
                                   common_.vars_,
@@ -86,6 +88,8 @@ void cairo_renderer<T>::process(text_symbolizer const& sym,
     auto transform = get_optional<transform_type>(sym, keys::geometry_transform);
     if (transform)
         evaluate_transform(tr, feature, common_.vars_, *transform, common_.scale_factor_);
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     text_symbolizer_helper helper(sym,
                                   feature,
                                   common_.vars_,
diff --git a/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp b/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
index 0ec93b7f0..0a384b345 100644
--- a/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/grid/process_shield_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ void grid_renderer<T>::process(shield_symbolizer const& sym,
     auto transform = get_optional<transform_type>(sym, keys::geometry_transform);
     if (transform)
         evaluate_transform(tr, feature, common_.vars_, *transform, common_.scale_factor_);
-
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     text_symbolizer_helper helper(sym,
                                   feature,
                                   common_.vars_,
diff --git a/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp b/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
index aa3ab0830..513ccea36 100644
--- a/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
+++ b/src/grid/process_text_symbolizer.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ void grid_renderer<T>::process(text_symbolizer const& sym,
     auto transform = get_optional<transform_type>(sym, keys::geometry_transform);
     if (transform)
         evaluate_transform(tr, feature, common_.vars_, *transform, common_.scale_factor_);
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     text_symbolizer_helper helper(sym,
                                   feature,
                                   common_.vars_,
diff --git a/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp b/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
index a6756128c..9a5910ed1 100644
--- a/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
+++ b/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ void render_thunk_extractor::operator()(markers_symbolizer const& sym) const
 
 void render_thunk_extractor::operator()(text_symbolizer const& sym) const
 {
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     auto helper = std::make_unique<text_symbolizer_helper>(sym,
                                                            feature_,
                                                            vars_,
@@ -116,6 +118,8 @@ void render_thunk_extractor::operator()(text_symbolizer const& sym) const
 
 void render_thunk_extractor::operator()(shield_symbolizer const& sym) const
 {
+    if (!mapnik::get<text_placements_ptr>(sym, keys::text_placements_))
+        return;
     auto helper = std::make_unique<text_symbolizer_helper>(sym,
                                                            feature_,
                                                            vars_,