Index: /Users/karl/Documents/python/Lib/test/test_minidom.py
===================================================================
--- /Users/karl/Documents/python/Lib/test/test_minidom.py	(revision 85491)
+++ /Users/karl/Documents/python/Lib/test/test_minidom.py	(working copy)
@@ -1489,6 +1489,12 @@
         doc.appendChild(doc.createComment("foo--bar"))
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, doc.toxml)
 
+        def testEmptyXMLNSValue(self):
+            doc = parseString("<element xmlns=''>\n"
+                              "<foo/>\n</element>")
+            doc2 = parseString(doc.toxml())
+            self.confirm(doc2.namespaceURI == xml.dom.EMPTY_NAMESPACE)
+
 def test_main():
     run_unittest(MinidomTest)