diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index d76a3e5d3..8c0295840 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ For a complete change history, see the SVN log.
 Mapnik Trunk
 ------------
 
+- Fixed reading of PostGIS data on Big Endian systems (#515)
+
 - AGG Renderer - Enforced default gamma function on all symbolizers to ensure proper antialiasing
   even when gamma is modified on the PolygonSymbolizer. (#512)
 
diff --git a/src/wkb.cpp b/src/wkb.cpp
index dcefbbc23..2495d102d 100644
--- a/src/wkb.cpp
+++ b/src/wkb.cpp
@@ -78,11 +78,8 @@ namespace mapnik
                 break;
             }
 
-#ifndef MAPNIK_BIG_ENDIAN
-            needSwap_=byteOrder_?wkbXDR:wkbNDR;
-#else
-            needSwap_=byteOrder_?wkbNDR:wkbXDR;	
-#endif	    
+            // 0 if true (NDR): 1 if false (XDR)
+            needSwap_ = byteOrder_?wkbXDR:wkbNDR;
         }
 
         ~wkb_reader() {}