diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js
index 2998d85522..a55f120ff6 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js
@@ -290,9 +290,9 @@ OpenLayers.Format.XML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
      */
     getChildValue: function(node, def) {
         var value;
-        try {
+        if (node && node.firstChild && node.firstChild.nodeValue) { 
             value = node.firstChild.nodeValue;
-        } catch(e) {
+        } else {
             value = (def != undefined) ? def : "";
         }
         return value;