diff --git a/lib/carto/tree/layer.js b/lib/carto/tree/layer.js
index c1b3f55..24e61ce 100644
--- a/lib/carto/tree/layer.js
+++ b/lib/carto/tree/layer.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ tree.LayerXML = function(obj, styles) {
         ' name="' + obj.name + '"\n' +
         prop_string +
         ((typeof obj.status === 'undefined') ? '' : '  status="' + obj.status + '"\n') +
-        '  srs="' + obj.srs + '">\n    ' +
+        ((typeof obj.srs === 'undefined') ? '' : '  srs="' + obj.srs + '"') + '>\n    ' +
         styles.reverse().map(function(s) {
             return '<StyleName>' + s + '</StyleName>';
         }).join('\n    ') +
diff --git a/test/rendering/issue294.mml b/test/rendering/issue294.mml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e8d6c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/rendering/issue294.mml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+    "srs": "+proj=merc +a=6378137 +b=6378137 +lat_ts=0.0 +lon_0=0.0 +x_0=0.0 +y_0=0.0 +k=1.0 +units=m +nadgrids=@null +wktext +no_defs +over",
+    "Stylesheet": [],
+    "Layer": [{
+        "name": "world",
+        "Datasource": {
+            "file": "http://tilemill-data.s3.amazonaws.com/test_data/shape_demo.zip",
+            "type": "shape"
+        }
+    }]
+}
diff --git a/test/rendering/issue294.result b/test/rendering/issue294.result
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f396629
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/rendering/issue294.result
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!DOCTYPE Map[]>
+<Map srs="+proj=merc +a=6378137 +b=6378137 +lat_ts=0.0 +lon_0=0.0 +x_0=0.0 +y_0=0.0 +k=1.0 +units=m +nadgrids=@null +wktext +no_defs +over" maximum-extent="-20037508.34,-20037508.34,20037508.34,20037508.34">
+
+
+<Layer name="world"
+>
+    
+    <Datasource>
+       <Parameter name="file"><![CDATA[[absolute path]]]></Parameter>
+       <Parameter name="type"><![CDATA[shape]]></Parameter>
+    </Datasource>
+  </Layer>
+
+</Map>