diff --git a/src/load_map.cpp b/src/load_map.cpp
index 2c6c3f8f2..fc8312260 100644
--- a/src/load_map.cpp
+++ b/src/load_map.cpp
@@ -1176,6 +1176,8 @@ void map_parser::parse_text_symbolizer( rule & rule, ptree const & sym )
                 placement_finder = text_placements_ptr(
                     new text_placements_simple(
                         get_attr<std::string>(sym, "placements", "X")));
+            } else if (*placement_type != "dummy" && *placement_type != "") {
+                throw config_error(std::string("Unknown placement type '"+*placement_type+"'"));
             }
         }
         if (!placement_finder) {
diff --git a/src/text_placements.cpp b/src/text_placements.cpp
index e7e003ba8..58c3ace0e 100644
--- a/src/text_placements.cpp
+++ b/src/text_placements.cpp
@@ -127,10 +127,10 @@ text_placement_info_ptr text_placements_simple::get_placement_info() const
 
 /** Positiion string: [POS][SIZE]
   * [POS] is any combination of
-  * N, E, S, W, NE, SE, NW, SW, X (exact position) (seprated by commas)
-  * [SIZE] is a list of font sizes, seprated by commas. First fontsize
-  * is always the one given in the TextSymbolizer parameters.
-  * First all directions are tried, then font size is reduced by 1pt
+  * N, E, S, W, NE, SE, NW, SW, X (exact position) (separated by commas)
+  * [SIZE] is a list of font sizes, separated by commas. The first font size
+  * is always the one given in the TextSymbolizer's parameters.
+  * First all directions are tried, then font size is reduced
   * and all directions are tried again. The process ends when a placement is
   * found or the last fontsize is tried without success.
   * Example: N,S,15,10,8 (tries placement above, then below and if