diff --git a/src/xml/xml.cpp b/src/xml/xml.cpp
index 6e2dbf6c96..0fc27c246b 100644
--- a/src/xml/xml.cpp
+++ b/src/xml/xml.cpp
@@ -97,8 +97,12 @@ wxXmlNode::~wxXmlNode()
 
 wxXmlNode& wxXmlNode::operator=(const wxXmlNode& node)
 {
-    DoFree();
-    DoCopy(node);
+    if ( &node != this )
+    {
+        DoFree();
+        DoCopy(node);
+    }
+
     return *this;
 }