diff --git a/xml/src/main/java/org/springframework/xml/dom/DomContentHandler.java b/xml/src/main/java/org/springframework/xml/dom/DomContentHandler.java
index 42b541e1..bc39ca61 100644
--- a/xml/src/main/java/org/springframework/xml/dom/DomContentHandler.java
+++ b/xml/src/main/java/org/springframework/xml/dom/DomContentHandler.java
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public class DomContentHandler implements ContentHandler {
                 element.setAttributeNS(attrUri, attrQname, value);
             }
         }
-        parent.appendChild(element);
+        element = (Element) parent.appendChild(element);
         elements.add(element);
     }