diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
index 29adaa5cb9..20669e5bfc 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Renderer/SVG.js
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ OpenLayers.Renderer.SVG = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Renderer.Elements, {
                 node.setAttributeNS(null, "y", (pos.y + yOffset).toFixed());
                 node.setAttributeNS(null, "width", width);
                 node.setAttributeNS(null, "height", height);
-                node.setAttributeNS(this.xlinkns, "href", style.externalGraphic);
+                node.setAttributeNS(this.xlinkns, "xlink:href", style.externalGraphic);
                 node.setAttributeNS(null, "style", "opacity: "+opacity);
                 node.onclick = OpenLayers.Event.preventDefault;
             } else if (this.isComplexSymbol(style.graphicName)) {