diff --git a/tycho-source-feature-plugin/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tycho/extras/sourcefeature/SourceFeatureMojo.java b/tycho-source-feature-plugin/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tycho/extras/sourcefeature/SourceFeatureMojo.java
index 05baf87..2c62fb0 100644
--- a/tycho-source-feature-plugin/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tycho/extras/sourcefeature/SourceFeatureMojo.java
+++ b/tycho-source-feature-plugin/src/main/java/org/eclipse/tycho/extras/sourcefeature/SourceFeatureMojo.java
@@ -515,15 +515,19 @@ public class SourceFeatureMojo extends AbstractMojo {
     }
 
     private String getAttribute(PlexusConfiguration dom, String attrName) {
-        String attr = dom.getAttribute(attrName);
-        if (attr == null) {
-            return null;
-        }
-        attr = attr.trim();
-        if (attr.length() == 0) {
+        try {
+            String attr = dom.getAttribute(attrName);
+            if (attr == null) {
+                return null;
+            }
+            attr = attr.trim();
+            if (attr.length() == 0) {
+                return null;
+            }
+            return attr;
+        } catch (Exception e) {
             return null;
         }
-        return attr;
     }
 
 }