diff --git a/lib/rexml/parsers/baseparser.rb b/lib/rexml/parsers/baseparser.rb
index e8f1a069..860be203 100644
--- a/lib/rexml/parsers/baseparser.rb
+++ b/lib/rexml/parsers/baseparser.rb
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ def add_listener( listener )
       def stream=( source )
         @source = SourceFactory.create_from( source )
         @closed = nil
+        @have_root = false
         @document_status = nil
         @tags = []
         @stack = []