diff --git a/ietf/utils/tests.py b/ietf/utils/tests.py
index 2dd861cd11..872aa366b9 100644
--- a/ietf/utils/tests.py
+++ b/ietf/utils/tests.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright The IETF Trust 2014-2020, All Rights Reserved
+# Copyright The IETF Trust 2014-2025, All Rights Reserved
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 
@@ -741,6 +741,23 @@ def test_render_author_name(self):
             "J. Q.",
         )
 
+    @patch("ietf.utils.xmldraft.XMLDraft.__init__", return_value=None)
+    def test_get_title(self, mock_init):
+        xmldraft = XMLDraft("fake")
+        self.assertTrue(mock_init.called)
+        # Stub XML that does not have a front/title element
+        xmldraft.xmlroot = lxml.etree.XML(
+            "<rfc><front></front></rfc>"  # no title
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(xmldraft.get_title(), "")
+
+        # Stub XML that has a front/title element
+        xmldraft.xmlroot = lxml.etree.XML(
+            "<rfc><front><title>This Is the Title</title></front></rfc>"
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(xmldraft.get_title(), "This Is the Title")
+
+        
     def test_capture_xml2rfc_output(self):
         """capture_xml2rfc_output reroutes and captures xml2rfc logs"""
         orig_write_out = xml2rfc_log.write_out
diff --git a/ietf/utils/xmldraft.py b/ietf/utils/xmldraft.py
index 3ac9a269c7..7ef6605c78 100644
--- a/ietf/utils/xmldraft.py
+++ b/ietf/utils/xmldraft.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright The IETF Trust 2022, All Rights Reserved
+# Copyright The IETF Trust 2022-2025, All Rights Reserved
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 import datetime
 import io
@@ -147,7 +147,8 @@ def parse_docname(xmlroot):
         return revmatch.group('filename'), revmatch.group('rev')
 
     def get_title(self):
-        return self.xmlroot.findtext('front/title').strip()
+        title_text = self.xmlroot.findtext('front/title')
+        return "" if title_text is None else title_text.strip()
 
     @staticmethod
     def parse_creation_date(date_elt):