diff --git a/ext/simplexml/simplexml.c b/ext/simplexml/simplexml.c
index a00b152f9c0..7f801f2fdd6 100644
--- a/ext/simplexml/simplexml.c
+++ b/ext/simplexml/simplexml.c
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ long_dim:
 		}
 	}
 
-	ZVAL_UNDEF(rv);
+	ZVAL_NULL(rv);
 
 	if (node) {
 		if (attribs) {
@@ -338,10 +338,6 @@ long_dim:
 		zval_ptr_dtor_str(&tmp_zv);
 	}
 
-	if (Z_ISUNDEF_P(rv)) {
-		ZVAL_NULL(rv);
-	}
-
 	return rv;
 }
 /* }}} */