diff --git a/sphinx/latexwriter.py b/sphinx/latexwriter.py
index 8173c821b..2dcd6a2ac 100644
--- a/sphinx/latexwriter.py
+++ b/sphinx/latexwriter.py
@@ -808,6 +808,9 @@ class LaTeXTranslator(nodes.NodeVisitor):
     def depart_description(self, node):
         pass
 
+    def visit_substitution_definition(self, node):
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
     # text handling
 
     replacements = [