diff --git a/Lib/xml/dom/minidom.py b/Lib/xml/dom/minidom.py
index 7e2f88e..3de8a4d 100644
--- a/Lib/xml/dom/minidom.py
+++ b/Lib/xml/dom/minidom.py
@@ -723,12 +723,16 @@
         Node.unlink(self)
 
     def getAttribute(self, attname):
+        if self._attrs is None:
+            return ""
         try:
             return self._attrs[attname].value
         except KeyError:
             return ""
 
     def getAttributeNS(self, namespaceURI, localName):
+        if self._attrsNS is None:
+            return ""
         try:
             return self._attrsNS[(namespaceURI, localName)].value
         except KeyError: