diff --git a/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar_impl.hpp b/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar_impl.hpp
index f72126eb7..7f5317e69 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar_impl.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/transform_expression_grammar_impl.hpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ transform_expression_grammar<Iterator>::transform_expression_grammar()
     // separated by whitespace and/or a comma.
 
     qi::no_skip_type no_skip;
-    start = transform_ % no_skip[char_(", ")] ;
+    start = transform_ % no_skip[*char_(", ")] ;
 
     transform_ = matrix | translate | scale | rotate | skewX | skewY ;