diff --git a/DIDLLite.py b/DIDLLite.py
index e5e64ab..580d0e1 100644
--- a/DIDLLite.py
+++ b/DIDLLite.py
@@ -252,7 +252,10 @@ class Container(Object, list):
 
 		root = Object.toElement(self)
 
-		root.attrib['childCount'] = str(self.childCount)
+		# only include if we have children, it's possible we don't
+		# have our children yet, and childCount is optional.
+		if self.childCount:
+			root.attrib['childCount'] = str(self.childCount)
 
 		if self.createClass is not None:
 			SubElement(root, 'upnp:createclass').text = self.createClass