diff --git a/src/xmpp/stream.go b/src/xmpp/stream.go
index 8af222f..4feb2a9 100644
--- a/src/xmpp/stream.go
+++ b/src/xmpp/stream.go
@@ -56,26 +56,10 @@ func (stream *Stream) UpgradeTLS(config *tls.Config) error {
 
 // Send the element's start tag. Typically used to open the stream's document.
 func (stream *Stream) SendStart(start *xml.StartElement) error {
-
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-	if _, err := buf.Write([]byte{'<'}); err != nil {
+	if err := writeXMLStartElement(buf, start); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := writeXMLName(buf, start.Name); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	for _, attr := range start.Attr {
-		if _, err := buf.Write([]byte{' '}); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if err := writeXMLAttr(buf, attr); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-	if _, err := buf.Write([]byte{'>'}); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	return stream.send(buf.Bytes())
 }
 
diff --git a/src/xmpp/xml.go b/src/xmpp/xml.go
index b09b354..d8e22a6 100644
--- a/src/xmpp/xml.go
+++ b/src/xmpp/xml.go
@@ -6,6 +6,28 @@ import (
 	"io"
 )
 
+// Write an xml.StartElement.
+func writeXMLStartElement(w io.Writer, start *xml.StartElement) error {
+	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{'<'}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := writeXMLName(w, start.Name); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	for _, attr := range start.Attr {
+		if _, err := w.Write([]byte{' '}); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if err := writeXMLAttr(w, attr); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := w.Write([]byte{'>'}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Write a xml.Name.
 func writeXMLName(w io.Writer, name xml.Name) error {
 	if name.Space == "" {