diff --git a/src/recipes.jl b/src/recipes.jl
index d4481ab8..ff90dbe4 100644
--- a/src/recipes.jl
+++ b/src/recipes.jl
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ plot!(plt::Plot, recipe::PlotRecipe, args...; kw...) = plot!(getRecipeXY(recipe)
 num_series(x::AMat) = size(x,2)
 num_series(x) = 1
 
+_apply_recipe(d::Dict; kw...) = nothing
+
 # if it's not a recipe, just do nothing and return the args
 function _apply_recipe(d::Dict, args...; issubplot=false, kw...)
     if issubplot && !haskey(d, :n) && !haskey(d, :layout)