diff --git a/sanitiser/_geo.js b/sanitiser/_geo.js
index 28b92812..b6b68f31 100644
--- a/sanitiser/_geo.js
+++ b/sanitiser/_geo.js
@@ -76,9 +76,6 @@ function sanitize_bbox( clean, param ) {
 function sanitize_coord( coord, clean, param, latlon_is_required ) {
   var value = parseFloat( param );
   if ( !isNaN( value ) ) {
-    if( coord === 'lat' && check_lat.is_invalid( value ) ){
-      throw new Error( 'invalid ' + check_lat.error_msg );
-    }
     clean[coord] = value;
   }
   else if (latlon_is_required) {
@@ -92,10 +89,3 @@ function sanitize_zoom_level( clean, param ) {
     clean.zoom = Math.min( Math.max( zoom, 1 ), 18 ); // max
   }
 }
-
-var check_lat = {
-  is_invalid: function is_invalid_lat( lat ){
-    return isNaN( lat ) || lat < -90 || lat > 90;
-  },
-  error_msg: 'param \'lat\': must be >-90 and <90'
-};
diff --git a/test/unit/sanitiser/reverse.js b/test/unit/sanitiser/reverse.js
index b85e4f40..d2ff8293 100644
--- a/test/unit/sanitiser/reverse.js
+++ b/test/unit/sanitiser/reverse.js
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ module.exports.tests.interface = function(test, common) {
 
 module.exports.tests.sanitize_lat = function(test, common) {
   var lats = {
-    invalid: [ -181, -120, -91, 91, 120, 181 ],
-    valid: [ 0, 45, 90, -0, '0', '45', '90' ],
+    invalid: [],
+    valid: [ 0, 45, 90, -0, '0', '45', '90', -181, -120, -91, 91, 120, 181 ],
     missing: ['', undefined, null]
   };
   test('invalid lat', function(t) {  
diff --git a/test/unit/sanitiser/search.js b/test/unit/sanitiser/search.js
index a2bd4d64..702bbcb5 100644
--- a/test/unit/sanitiser/search.js
+++ b/test/unit/sanitiser/search.js
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ module.exports.tests.sanitize_input_with_delim = function(test, common) {
 
 module.exports.tests.sanitize_lat = function(test, common) {
   var lats = {
-    invalid: [ -181, -120, -91, 91, 120, 181 ],
-    valid: [ 0, 45, 90, -0, '0', '45', '90' ]
+    invalid: [],
+    valid: [ 0, 45, 90, -0, '0', '45', '90', -181, -120, -91, 91, 120, 181  ]
   };
   test('invalid lat', function(t) {  
     lats.invalid.forEach( function( lat ){
diff --git a/test/unit/sanitiser/suggest.js b/test/unit/sanitiser/suggest.js
index a0ec198a..b1ad1be6 100644
--- a/test/unit/sanitiser/suggest.js
+++ b/test/unit/sanitiser/suggest.js
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ module.exports.tests.sanitize_input_with_delim = function(test, common) {
 
 module.exports.tests.sanitize_lat = function(test, common) {
   var lats = {
-    invalid: [ -181, -120, -91, 91, 120, 181 ],
-    valid: [ 0, 45, 90, -0, '0', '45', '90' ]
+    invalid: [],
+    valid: [ 0, 45, 90, -0, '0', '45', '90', -181, -120, -91, 91, 120, 181 ]
   };
   test('invalid lat', function(t) {  
     lats.invalid.forEach( function( lat ){