diff --git a/packages/fcl-xml/src/xmlconf.pp b/packages/fcl-xml/src/xmlconf.pp
index 8516cf5e87..da163ea631 100644
--- a/packages/fcl-xml/src/xmlconf.pp
+++ b/packages/fcl-xml/src/xmlconf.pp
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ begin
   begin
     for I := 0 to FPathCount-1 do
       FElement := DoFindNode(FPathStack[I], FDummy, Flags - [pfHasValue]);
-    FPathDirty := False;      
+    if Assigned(FElement) then FPathDirty := False;
   end;
   Result := DoFindNode(APath, Ident, Flags);
 end;