diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/UnknownElement.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/UnknownElement.java
index bb5ab1534..c4d938610 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/UnknownElement.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/UnknownElement.java
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ public class UnknownElement extends Task {
                 realChild = makeTask(child, childWrapper);
                 ((TaskContainer) parent).addTask((Task) realChild);
             } else {
-                ih.createElement(project, parent, child.getTag());
+                realChild = ih.createElement(project, parent, child.getTag());
             }
 
             childWrapper.setProxy(realChild);