diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 9d70cbe..60a3c6e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 *SVN*
 
+* Fix a bug in the simulated hasAttribute for IE due to getAttributeNode sometimes returning null.  [sam]
+
 * Optimize Element.getStyle and add new Element.getOpacity method. Special case IE and Opera getStyle methods.  Closes #7648.  [Tobie Langel, Thomas Fuchs]
 
 * Optimize Element.setStyle and add new Element.setOpacity method, special case IE and Gecko opacity methods.  Closes #7585.  [savetheclocktower]
diff --git a/src/dom.js b/src/dom.js
index ab5b069..6168877 100644
--- a/src/dom.js
+++ b/src/dom.js
@@ -512,9 +512,10 @@ Object.extend(Element._attributeTranslations.values, {
 
 Element.Methods.Simulated = {
   hasAttribute: function(element, attribute) {
-    var t = Element._attributeTranslations;
+    var t = Element._attributeTranslations, node;
     attribute = t.names[attribute] || attribute;
-    return $(element).getAttributeNode(attribute).specified;
+    node = $(element).getAttributeNode(attribute);
+    return node && node.specified;
   }
 };