diff --git a/include/mapnik/gradient.hpp b/include/mapnik/gradient.hpp
index c7fafd81d..f8eff6e7d 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/gradient.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/gradient.hpp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public:
     gradient(gradient const& other);
     gradient(gradient && other);
     gradient& operator=(gradient rhs);
-
+    bool operator==(gradient const& other) const;
     void set_gradient_type(gradient_e grad);
     gradient_e get_gradient_type() const;
 
diff --git a/src/gradient.cpp b/src/gradient.cpp
index a10838597..037cf8fc7 100644
--- a/src/gradient.cpp
+++ b/src/gradient.cpp
@@ -83,6 +83,19 @@ gradient & gradient::operator=(gradient rhs)
     return *this;
 }
 
+bool gradient::operator==(gradient const& other) const
+{
+    return transform_ == other.transform_ &&
+        x1_ == other.x1_ &&
+        y1_ == other.y1_ &&
+        x2_ == other.x2_ &&
+        y2_ == other.y2_ &&
+        r_  == other.r_  &&
+        std::equal(stops_.begin(),stops_.end(), other.stops_.begin()),
+        units_ == other.units_ &&
+        gradient_type_ == other.gradient_type_;
+}
+
 void gradient::set_gradient_type(gradient_e grad)
 {
     gradient_type_=grad;