diff --git a/svgelements/svgelements.py b/svgelements/svgelements.py
index c854d03..ff00c7b 100644
--- a/svgelements/svgelements.py
+++ b/svgelements/svgelements.py
@@ -9233,7 +9233,7 @@ def parse(
                         if SVG_TAG_PATH == tag:
                             # Delayed path parsing, for partial paths.
                             s = Path(values, pathd_loaded=True)
-                            s.parse(values.get(SVG_ATTR_DATA))
+                            s.parse(values.get(SVG_ATTR_DATA, ""))
                         elif SVG_TAG_CIRCLE == tag:
                             s = Circle(values)
                         elif SVG_TAG_ELLIPSE == tag: