diff --git a/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss.ex b/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss.ex
index 71ff457..9c9a3bf 100644
--- a/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss.ex
+++ b/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss.ex
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ defmodule FeedReader.Formats.RSS do
       limits: XMLResourceLimits.new(opts),
       frames: [],
       channel: nil,
+      root_closed: false,
       error: nil
     }
   end
diff --git a/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss/handler.ex b/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss/handler.ex
index 2cbdfb7..7c8b4a9 100644
--- a/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss/handler.ex
+++ b/lib/feed_reader/formats/rss/handler.ex
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ defmodule FeedReader.Formats.RSS.Handler do
 
   defp close_element("channel", _channel, state), do: {:ok, state}
 
+  defp close_element("rss", _feed, %{frames: []} = state),
+    do: {:halt, %{state | root_closed: true}}
+
   defp close_element(name, value, %{frames: [parent | rest]} = state) do
     children = Map.update(parent.children, name, value, &(List.wrap(&1) ++ [value]))
     {:ok, %{state | frames: [%{parent | children: children} | rest]}}