diff --git a/src/attributes/attr.js b/src/attributes/attr.js
index 9c962ef2d..da0ae24d9 100644
--- a/src/attributes/attr.js
+++ b/src/attributes/attr.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jQuery.extend({
 			nType = elem.nodeType;
 
 		// don't get/set attributes on text, comment and attribute nodes
-		if ( !elem || nType === 3 || nType === 8 || nType === 2 ) {
+		if ( nType === 3 || nType === 8 || nType === 2 ) {
 			return;
 		}