diff --git a/src/load_map.cpp b/src/load_map.cpp
index b0fec525e..76013c131 100644
--- a/src/load_map.cpp
+++ b/src/load_map.cpp
@@ -850,8 +850,8 @@ namespace mapnik
                 throw config_error(std::string("Must have face_name or fontset_name"));
             }
 
-            int dx = get_attr(sym, "dx", 0.0);
-            int dy = get_attr(sym, "dy", 0.0);
+            double dx = get_attr(sym, "dx", 0.0);
+            double dy = get_attr(sym, "dy", 0.0);
             text_symbol.set_displacement(dx,dy);
 
             label_placement_e placement =
@@ -1034,8 +1034,8 @@ namespace mapnik
                     throw config_error(std::string("Must have face_name or fontset_name"));
                 }
                 // text displacement
-                int dx = get_attr(sym, "dx", 0.0);
-                int dy = get_attr(sym, "dy", 0.0);
+                double dx = get_attr(sym, "dx", 0.0);
+                double dy = get_attr(sym, "dy", 0.0);
                 shield_symbol.set_displacement(dx,dy);
                 
                 label_placement_e placement =