diff --git a/src/marker_cache.cpp b/src/marker_cache.cpp
index 6dbd6f5cb..7b15e087a 100644
--- a/src/marker_cache.cpp
+++ b/src/marker_cache.cpp
@@ -215,7 +215,16 @@ std::shared_ptr<mapnik::marker const> marker_cache::find(std::string const& uri,
                 svg_path_adapter svg_path(stl_storage);
                 svg_converter_type svg(svg_path, marker_path->attributes());
                 svg_parser p(svg);
-                p.parse(uri);
+
+
+                if (!p.parse(uri))
+                {
+                    for (auto const& msg : p.error_messages())
+                    {
+                        std::cerr << "SVG PARSING ERROR:\"" << msg << "\"" << std::endl;
+                    }
+                    return std::make_shared<mapnik::marker const>(mapnik::marker_null());
+                }
                 //svg.arrange_orientations();
                 double lox,loy,hix,hiy;
                 svg.bounding_rect(&lox, &loy, &hix, &hiy);