diff --git a/core/src/processing/core/PShapeSVG.java b/core/src/processing/core/PShapeSVG.java
index db1bd9e88..0bbf2c51a 100644
--- a/core/src/processing/core/PShapeSVG.java
+++ b/core/src/processing/core/PShapeSVG.java
@@ -457,7 +457,11 @@ public class PShapeSVG extends PShape {
         separate = false;
       }
       if (c == '-' && !lastSeparate) {
-        pathBuffer.append("|");
+        // allow for 'e' notation in numbers, e.g. 2.10e-9 
+        // http://dev.processing.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=1408
+        if (i == 0 || pathDataChars[i-1] != 'e') {
+          pathBuffer.append("|");
+        }
       }
       if (c != ',') {
         pathBuffer.append(c); //"" + pathDataBuffer.charAt(i));
diff --git a/core/todo.txt b/core/todo.txt
index 2eef95a32..33df4a364 100644
--- a/core/todo.txt
+++ b/core/todo.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 0174 core (private)
-X no changes
+X svg paths that use 'e' (exponent) not handled properly
+X   http://dev.processing.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=1408
 
+_ consider bringing back text/image using cache/names
+_   fonts might not be as bad
 
 _ open up the pdf library more (philho)
 _   http://dev.processing.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=1343