diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/shapes.py b/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/shapes.py
index a83274e4b..efbfc91a6 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/shapes.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/svgLib/path/shapes.py
@@ -116,6 +116,18 @@ class PathBuilder(object):
         self.A(r, r, cx + r, cy, large_arc=1)
         self.A(r, r, cx - r, cy, large_arc=1)
 
+    def _parse_ellipse(self, ellipse):
+        cx = float(ellipse.attrib.get('cx', 0))
+        cy = float(ellipse.attrib.get('cy', 0))
+        rx = float(ellipse.attrib.get('rx'))
+        ry = float(ellipse.attrib.get('ry'))
+
+        # arc doesn't seem to like being a complete shape, draw two halves
+        self._start_path()
+        self.M(cx - rx, cy)
+        self.A(rx, ry, cx + rx, cy, large_arc=1)
+        self.A(rx, ry, cx - rx, cy, large_arc=1)
+
     def add_path_from_element(self, el):
         tag = _strip_xml_ns(el.tag)
         parse_fn = getattr(self, '_parse_%s' % tag.lower(), None)
diff --git a/Tests/svgLib/path/shapes_test.py b/Tests/svgLib/path/shapes_test.py
index ee9ddeae6..6202d60f6 100644
--- a/Tests/svgLib/path/shapes_test.py
+++ b/Tests/svgLib/path/shapes_test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import print_function, absolute_import, division
 
 from fontTools.misc.py23 import *
-from fontTools.pens.recordingPen import RecordingPen
 from fontTools.svgLib.path import shapes
 from fontTools.misc import etree
 import pytest
@@ -55,7 +54,17 @@ import pytest
         (
             "<circle cx='12' cy='6.5' r='1.5'></circle>",
             "M10.5,6.5 A1.5,1.5 0 1 1 13.5,6.5 A1.5,1.5 0 1 1 10.5,6.5"
-        )
+        ),
+        # ellipse
+        (
+            '<ellipse cx="100" cy="50" rx="100" ry="50"/>',
+            'M0,50 A100,50 0 1 1 200,50 A100,50 0 1 1 0,50'
+        ),
+        # ellipse, decimal positioning
+        (
+            '<ellipse cx="100.5" cy="50" rx="10" ry="50.5"/>',
+            'M90.5,50 A10,50.5 0 1 1 110.5,50 A10,50.5 0 1 1 90.5,50'
+        ),
     ]
 )
 def test_el_to_path(svg_xml, expected_path):