diff --git a/collects/xml/private/xexpr.ss b/collects/xml/private/xexpr.ss
index 6ecf5c158a..cc0dd7e4ca 100644
--- a/collects/xml/private/xexpr.ss
+++ b/collects/xml/private/xexpr.ss
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
       ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;
       ;; ; xexpr? helpers
 
-      (define-struct (exn:invalid-xexpr exn) (code))
+      (define-struct (exn:invalid-xexpr exn:fail) (code))
 
       ;; correct-xexpr? : any (-> a) (exn -> a) -> a
       (define (correct-xexpr? x true false)