diff --git a/scheme/httpd/surflets/sxml.scm b/scheme/httpd/surflets/sxml.scm
index 79c8364..e6a09e0 100644
--- a/scheme/httpd/surflets/sxml.scm
+++ b/scheme/httpd/surflets/sxml.scm
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@
 ;; Returns the attribute list after the initial '@. For our
 ;; convenience, it ignores values that are not sxml-attributes.
 (define (sxml-attribute-attributes thing)
-  (and (sxml-attribute? thing)
-       (cdr thing)))
+  (if (sxml-attribute? thing)
+      (cdr thing)
+      '()))
 
 ;; Default rule: Creates leading and trailing tag and encloses the
 ;; attributes.