diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Loader/XmlFileLoader.php b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Loader/XmlFileLoader.php
index 5f428256b49f1..d2d1ea5ab9137 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Loader/XmlFileLoader.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Loader/XmlFileLoader.php
@@ -347,7 +347,9 @@ private function processAnonymousServices(\DOMDocument $xml, $file)
                 $domElement->parentNode->replaceChild($tmpDomElement, $domElement);
                 $tmpDomElement->setAttribute('id', $id);
             } else {
-                $domElement->parentNode->removeChild($domElement);
+                if (null !== $domElement->parentNode) {
+                    $domElement->parentNode->removeChild($domElement);
+                }
             }
         }
     }