diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/GPX.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/GPX.js
index 8da76193d2..2b71d3b27d 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/GPX.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/GPX.js
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.GPX = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format.XML, {
         var attributes = {};
         var attrNode = node.firstChild, value, name;
         while(attrNode) {
-            if(attrNode.nodeType == 1) {
+            if(attrNode.nodeType == 1 && attrNode.firstChild) {
                 value = attrNode.firstChild;
                 if(value.nodeType == 3 || value.nodeType == 4) {
                     name = (attrNode.prefix) ?