diff --git a/QuestionsFile.class.php b/QuestionsFile.class.php
index ed8b32b..ee421cb 100644
--- a/QuestionsFile.class.php
+++ b/QuestionsFile.class.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class QuestionsFile
     if (@$this->treeXML->load($this->filename))
     {
       $root_nodes = $this->treeXML->getElementsByTagName("questions");
-      if ($root_node->length > 0)
+      if ($root_nodes->length > 0)
         $this->root_node = $root_nodes->item(0);
       else
         throw Exception("Not a valid nemubot QuestionsFile.");