diff --git a/valid.c b/valid.c
index 491e5d4..b3b52c9 100644
--- a/valid.c
+++ b/valid.c
@@ -2287,6 +2287,8 @@
 	xmlFreeID(ret);
 	return(NULL);
     }
+    if (attr != NULL)
+	attr->atype = XML_ATTRIBUTE_ID;
     return(ret);
 }