diff --git a/smack-extensions/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smackx/pubsub/Node.java b/smack-extensions/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smackx/pubsub/Node.java
index 32946f486..954c92328 100644
--- a/smack-extensions/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smackx/pubsub/Node.java
+++ b/smack-extensions/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smackx/pubsub/Node.java
@@ -701,6 +701,7 @@ abstract public class Node
 	{
         private final String firstElement;
         private final String secondElement;
+        private final boolean allowEmpty;
 
 		EventContentFilter(String elementName)
 		{
@@ -711,6 +712,8 @@ abstract public class Node
 		{
 			firstElement = firstLevelEelement;
 			secondElement = secondLevelElement;
+            allowEmpty = firstElement.equals(EventElementType.items.toString())
+                            && "item".equals(secondLevelElement);
 		}
 
         public boolean acceptSpecific(Message message) {
@@ -736,6 +739,13 @@ abstract public class Node
 				{
 					List<ExtensionElement> secondLevelList = ((EmbeddedPacketExtension)embedEvent).getExtensions();
 
+                    // XEP-0060 allows no elements on second level for notifications. See schema or
+                    // for example § 4.3:
+                    // "although event notifications MUST include an empty <items/> element;"
+                    if (allowEmpty && secondLevelList.isEmpty()) {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+
 					if (secondLevelList.size() > 0 && secondLevelList.get(0).getElementName().equals(secondElement))
 						return true;
 				}