diff --git a/suds/sax/element.py b/suds/sax/element.py
index bffacab..06e4e5b 100644
--- a/suds/sax/element.py
+++ b/suds/sax/element.py
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ class Element(UnicodeMixin):
         """
         if ns is None:
             return
-        if not isinstance(ns, (tuple, list)):
+        if not isinstance(ns, (list, tuple)):
             raise Exception("namespace must be a list or a tuple")
         if ns[0] is None:
             self.expns = ns[1]
@@ -853,11 +853,11 @@ class Element(UnicodeMixin):
 
         """
         s = []
-        myns = (None, self.expns)
+        myns = None, self.expns
         if self.parent is None:
             pns = Namespace.default
         else:
-            pns = (None, self.parent.expns)
+            pns = None, self.parent.expns
         if myns[1] != pns[1]:
             if self.expns is not None:
                 s.append(' xmlns="%s"' % (self.expns,))