diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik_text_placement.cpp b/bindings/python/mapnik_text_placement.cpp
index 31a232df7..34ba44aa0 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik_text_placement.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik_text_placement.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <mapnik/expression_string.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/text_symbolizer.hpp>
 #include "mapnik_threads.hpp"
+#include "python_optional.hpp"
 
 using namespace mapnik;
 
@@ -390,26 +391,26 @@ void export_text_placement()
     register_ptr_to_python<boost::shared_ptr<formating::text_node> >();
 
 
-    class_<FormatNodeWrap,
+    class_with_optional<FormatNodeWrap,
            boost::shared_ptr<FormatNodeWrap>,
            bases<formating::node>,
            boost::noncopyable>
            ("FormatingFormatNode")
+        .def_readwrite_optional("text_size", &formating::format_node::text_size)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("face_name", &formating::format_node::face_name)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("character_spacing", &formating::format_node::character_spacing)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("line_spacing", &formating::format_node::line_spacing)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("text_opacity", &formating::format_node::text_opacity)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("wrap_char", &formating::format_node::wrap_char)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("wrap_before", &formating::format_node::wrap_before)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("text_transform", &formating::format_node::text_transform)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("fill", &formating::format_node::fill)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("halo_fill", &formating::format_node::halo_fill)
+        .def_readwrite_optional("halo_radius", &formating::format_node::halo_radius)
         .def("apply", &formating::format_node::apply, &FormatNodeWrap::default_apply)
         .add_property("child",
                       &formating::format_node::get_child,
                       &formating::format_node::set_child)
-        .def_readwrite("face_name", &formating::format_node::face_name)
-        .def_readwrite("text_size", &formating::format_node::text_size)
-        .def_readwrite("character_spacing", &formating::format_node::character_spacing)
-        .def_readwrite("line_spacing", &formating::format_node::line_spacing)
-        .def_readwrite("text_opacity", &formating::format_node::text_opacity)
-        .def_readwrite("wrap_char", &formating::format_node::wrap_char)
-        .def_readwrite("wrap_before", &formating::format_node::wrap_before)
-        .def_readwrite("text_transform", &formating::format_node::text_transform)
-        .def_readwrite("fill", &formating::format_node::fill)
-        .def_readwrite("halo_fill", &formating::format_node::halo_fill)
-        .def_readwrite("halo_radius", &formating::format_node::halo_radius)
         ;
     register_ptr_to_python<boost::shared_ptr<formating::format_node> >();
 }
diff --git a/bindings/python/python_optional.hpp b/bindings/python/python_optional.hpp
index 0bcdf5430..99a5587a7 100644
--- a/bindings/python/python_optional.hpp
+++ b/bindings/python/python_optional.hpp
@@ -100,3 +100,39 @@ struct python_optional : public boost::noncopyable
     }
 };
 
+/** This class works around a bug in boost python.
+
+  See http://osdir.com/ml/python.c++/2003-11/msg00158.html
+  */
+template <typename T, typename X1, typename X2, typename X3>
+class class_with_optional : public boost::python::class_<T, X1, X2, X3>
+{
+public:
+    typedef class_with_optional<T,X1,X2,X3> self;
+    // Construct with the class name, with or without docstring, and default __init__() function
+    class_with_optional(char const* name, char const* doc = 0) : boost::python::class_<T, X1, X2, X3>(name, doc)  { }
+
+    // Construct with class name, no docstring, and an uncallable __init__ function
+    class_with_optional(char const* name, boost::python::no_init_t y) : boost::python::class_<T, X1, X2, X3>(name, y) { }
+
+    // Construct with class name, docstring, and an uncallable __init__ function
+    class_with_optional(char const* name, char const* doc, boost::python::no_init_t y) : boost::python::class_<T, X1, X2, X3>(name, doc, y) { }
+
+    // Construct with class name and init<> function
+    template <class DerivedT> class_with_optional(char const* name, boost::python::init_base<DerivedT> const& i)
+        : boost::python::class_<T, X1, X2, X3>(name, i) { }
+
+    // Construct with class name, docstring and init<> function
+    template <class DerivedT>
+    inline class_with_optional(char const* name, char const* doc, boost::python::init_base<DerivedT> const& i)
+        : boost::python::class_<T, X1, X2, X3>(name, doc, i) { }
+
+    template <class D>
+    self& def_readwrite_optional(char const* name, D const& d, char const* doc=0)
+    {
+        this->add_property(name,
+                     make_getter(d, boost::python::return_value_policy<boost::python::return_by_value>()),
+                     make_setter(d, boost::python::default_call_policies()));
+        return *this;
+    }
+};