diff --git a/basis/xml/writer/writer.factor b/basis/xml/writer/writer.factor
index 13f0be431c..8bda10102d 100644
--- a/basis/xml/writer/writer.factor
+++ b/basis/xml/writer/writer.factor
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ M: instruction write-item
         [ after>> write-chunk ]
     } cleave ;
 
+M: xml write-item
+    body>> write-item ;
+
 : print-xml ( xml -- )
     write-xml nl ;