diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_view.py b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_view.py
index cbd2ea4b792..843588c3b4d 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_view.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_view.py
@@ -319,8 +319,8 @@ class view(osv.osv):
                         attribute = (child.get('name'), child.text and child.text.encode('utf8') or None)
                         if attribute[1]:
                             node.set(attribute[0], attribute[1])
-                        else:
-                            del(node.attrib[attribute[0]])
+                        elif attribute[0] in node.attrib:
+                            del node.attrib[attribute[0]]
                 else:
                     sib = node.getnext()
                     for child in spec: