diff --git a/src/encoding/xml/marshal_test.go b/src/encoding/xml/marshal_test.go
index 601bb30d03..8362421db7 100644
--- a/src/encoding/xml/marshal_test.go
+++ b/src/encoding/xml/marshal_test.go
@@ -640,6 +640,8 @@ var marshalTests = []struct {
 			`<x xmlns="space1">` +
 			`<c>c1</c>` +
 			`<d>d1</d>` +
+			`</x>` +
+			`<x>` +
 			`<e>e1</e>` +
 			`</x>` +
 			`</top>`,
diff --git a/src/encoding/xml/typeinfo.go b/src/encoding/xml/typeinfo.go
index 22248d20a6..c9a6421f28 100644
--- a/src/encoding/xml/typeinfo.go
+++ b/src/encoding/xml/typeinfo.go
@@ -194,6 +194,14 @@ func structFieldInfo(typ reflect.Type, f *reflect.StructField) (*fieldInfo, erro
 		return finfo, nil
 	}
 
+	if finfo.xmlns == "" && finfo.flags&fAttr == 0 {
+		// If it's an element no namespace specified, get the default
+		// from the XMLName of enclosing struct if possible.
+		if xmlname := lookupXMLName(typ); xmlname != nil {
+			finfo.xmlns = xmlname.xmlns
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Prepare field name and parents.
 	parents := strings.Split(tag, ">")
 	if parents[0] == "" {