diff --git a/sanitizer/_geo_autocomplete.js b/sanitizer/_geo_autocomplete.js
index 04fc0b0d..45c2f921 100644
--- a/sanitizer/_geo_autocomplete.js
+++ b/sanitizer/_geo_autocomplete.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var geo_common = require ('./_geo_common');
 var LAT_LON_IS_REQUIRED = false;
+var RECT_IS_REQUIRED = false;
 
 // validate inputs, convert types and apply defaults
 module.exports = function sanitize( raw, clean ){
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ module.exports = function sanitize( raw, clean ){
 
   try {
     geo_common.sanitize_point( 'focus.point', clean, raw, LAT_LON_IS_REQUIRED );
+    geo_common.sanitize_rect( 'boundary.rect', clean, raw, RECT_IS_REQUIRED );
   }
   catch (err) {
     messages.errors.push( err.message );