diff --git a/src/svg/SvgElement.js b/src/svg/SvgElement.js
index a5d665cd..007c406f 100644
--- a/src/svg/SvgElement.js
+++ b/src/svg/SvgElement.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ var SvgElement = new function() {
             href: xlink,
             xlink: xmlns,
             xmlns: xmlns,
+            // IE needs the xmlns namespace when setting 'xmlns:xlink'. See #984
             'xmlns:xlink': xmlns
         };
 
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ var SvgElement = new function() {
             if (typeof value === 'number' && formatter)
                 value = formatter.number(value);
             if (namespace) {
+                // IE needs trailing slashes, but only when setting. See #984
                 node.setAttributeNS(namespace + '/', name, value);
             } else {
                 node.setAttribute(name, value);
diff --git a/test/tests/SvgImport.js b/test/tests/SvgImport.js
index 933c4bc9..670eadc5 100644
--- a/test/tests/SvgImport.js
+++ b/test/tests/SvgImport.js
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ function importSVG(assert, url, message, options) {
         onError: function(error) {
             var ok = !!(options && options.expectError);
             QUnit.push(ok, false, !ok, ok && message
-                || 'Loading SVG from a valid URL should not give an error.');
+                || 'Loading SVG from a valid URL should not give an error: ' +
+                    error);
             done();
         }
     });