diff --git a/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp b/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
index 65d6bbfbf..83fc187bc 100644
--- a/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
@@ -269,19 +269,10 @@ Transport* TransportFactory::newTransport(const std::string& transportModel,
 
 Transport* TransportFactory::newTransport(thermo_t* phase, int log_level)
 {
-    XML_Node& phaseNode=phase->xml();
-    /*
-     * Find the Thermo XML node
-     */
-    if (!phaseNode.hasChild("transport")) {
-        throw CanteraError("TransportFactory::newTransport",
-                           "no transport XML node");
-    }
-    XML_Node& transportNode = phaseNode.child("transport");
-    std::string transportModel = transportNode.attrib("model");
-    if (transportModel == "") {
-        throw CanteraError("TransportFactory::newTransport",
-                           "transport XML node doesn't have a model string");
+    std::string transportModel = "None";
+    XML_Node& phaseNode = phase->xml();
+    if (phaseNode.hasChild("transport")) {
+        transportModel = phaseNode.child("transport").attrib("model");
     }
     return newTransport(transportModel, phase,log_level);
 }
diff --git a/test/data/air-no-reactions.xml b/test/data/air-no-reactions.xml
index 5c1b8660c..6f20b0b7a 100644
--- a/test/data/air-no-reactions.xml
+++ b/test/data/air-no-reactions.xml
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
     </state>
     <thermo model="IdealGas"/>
     <kinetics model="GasKinetics"/>
-    <transport model="None"/>
   </phase>
 
   <!-- phase notair     -->
@@ -28,7 +27,6 @@
     <note>This phase contains no Argon.</note>
     <thermo model="IdealGas"/>
     <kinetics model="GasKinetics"/>
-    <transport model="None"/>
   </phase>
 
   <!-- species definitions     -->