--- libxklavier/xklavier_config.c
+++ libxklavier/xklavier_config.c
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@
 		return FALSE;
 
 	nodes = xpath_obj->nodesetval;
-	if (nodes != NULL && nodes->nodeTab != NULL) {
+	if (nodes != NULL && nodes->nodeTab != NULL && nodes->nodeNr > 0) {
 		rv = xkl_read_config_item(config, *nodes->nodeTab, pitem);
 		if (pnode != NULL) {
 			*pnode = *nodes->nodeTab;