diff --git a/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp b/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp
index edb4a85c2..b9e21ad35 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/box2d.hpp
@@ -41,9 +41,8 @@ namespace mapnik {
 template <typename T> class MAPNIK_DECL box2d  
 : boost::equality_comparable<box2d<T> ,
                              boost::addable<box2d<T>, 
-                                            boost::subtractable<box2d<T>, 
-                                                                boost::dividable2<box2d<T>, T,
-                                                                                  boost::multipliable2<box2d<T>, T > > > > >
+					    boost::dividable2<box2d<T>, T,
+							      boost::multipliable2<box2d<T>, T > > > >
 {
 public:
     typedef box2d<T> box2d_type;
@@ -86,7 +85,6 @@ public:
         
     // define some operators 
     box2d_type& operator+=(box2d_type const& other);
-    box2d_type& operator-=(box2d_type const& other);
     box2d_type& operator*=(T);
     box2d_type& operator/=(T);
     T operator[](int index) const;
diff --git a/src/box2d.cpp b/src/box2d.cpp
index b4a069095..4998994cc 100644
--- a/src/box2d.cpp
+++ b/src/box2d.cpp
@@ -384,14 +384,6 @@ box2d<T>&  box2d<T>::operator+=(box2d<T> const& other)
     return *this;
 }
 
-/*
-template <typename T>    
-box2d<T>& box2d<T>::operator-=(box2d<T> const& other)
-{
-    // not sure what to do here. intersect?
-    return *this;
-}
-*/
     
 template <typename T>    
 box2d<T>& box2d<T>::operator*=(T t)