diff --git a/expat/xmlparse/xmlparse.c b/expat/xmlparse/xmlparse.c
index 23fd948b..0c4c6009 100755
--- a/expat/xmlparse/xmlparse.c
+++ b/expat/xmlparse/xmlparse.c
@@ -316,7 +316,9 @@ XML_Parser XML_ExternalEntityParserCreate(XML_Parser oldParser,
     return 0;
   }
 
-  processor = externalEntityInitProcessor;
+  if (errorCode != XML_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ENCODING)
+    processor = externalEntityInitProcessor;
+
   return parser;
 }