diff --git a/ser/XmlFormatter2.cs b/ser/XmlFormatter2.cs
index d960bc6..93b194a 100644
--- a/ser/XmlFormatter2.cs
+++ b/ser/XmlFormatter2.cs
@@ -1139,12 +1139,21 @@ namespace lib
 
 				if( typeCode != TypeCode.Object )
 				{
-					if( _cfg.POD == POD.Elements || forceType )
+					bool writeELements = _cfg.POD == POD.Elements || forceType;
+
+					if( !writeELements && writer is XmlTextWriter textWriter )
+					{
+						var writeState = textWriter.WriteState;
+
+						writeELements = writeState != WriteState.Element;
+					}
+
+					if( writeELements )
 						writer.WriteStartElement( name );
 
 					SerializeConcrete( writer, mi, root, name, forceType );
 
-					if( _cfg.POD == POD.Elements || forceType )
+					if( writeELements )
 						writer.WriteEndElement();
 
 					return;