diff --git a/src/g-component.html b/src/g-component.html
index 34cfb10a..ee677fd0 100644
--- a/src/g-component.html
+++ b/src/g-component.html
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
       };
 
       HTMLElementElement.prototype.component = function(inUber) {
-        var attributes = this.element.getAttribute("attributes").split(",");
+        var attributes = (this.element.getAttribute('attributes') || '').split(',');
         //var events = this.getAttribute("events");
         this.lifecycle({
           shadowRootCreated: function(inRoot) {