diff --git a/sleekxmpp/stanza/iq.py b/sleekxmpp/stanza/iq.py
index c735ae6..c5ef8bb 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/stanza/iq.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/stanza/iq.py
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ class Iq(RootStanza):
     Stanza Interface:
         query -- The namespace of the <query> element if one exists.
 
+    Attributes:
+        types -- May be one of: get, set, result, or error.
+
     Methods:
         __init__   -- Overrides StanzaBase.__init__.
         unhandled  -- Send error if there are no handlers.
diff --git a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py
index 5b41a40..94ff958 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ class ElementBase(tostring.ToString):
                 if name in self.xml.attrib:
                         del self.xml.attrib[name]
         
-        def _getAttr(self, name):
-                return self.xml.attrib.get(name, '')
+        def _getAttr(self, name, default=''):
+                return self.xml.attrib.get(name, default)
         
         def _getSubText(self, name):
                 if '}' not in name: