diff --git a/include/mapnik/value.hpp b/include/mapnik/value.hpp
index 3df89f45c..84ccad828 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/value.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/value.hpp
@@ -814,7 +814,9 @@ public:
 
     template <typename T>
     value ( T const& val)
-        : base_(typename detail::mapnik_value_type<T>::type(val)) {}
+        : base_() {
+           base_ = static_cast<typename detail::mapnik_value_type<T>::type>(val);
+        }
 
     value (value const& other)
         : base_(other.base_) {}