diff --git a/batik-bridge/src/main/java/org/apache/batik/bridge/AbstractSVGGradientElementBridge.java b/batik-bridge/src/main/java/org/apache/batik/bridge/AbstractSVGGradientElementBridge.java
index 0d1fd1606f..2b587d41cb 100644
--- a/batik-bridge/src/main/java/org/apache/batik/bridge/AbstractSVGGradientElementBridge.java
+++ b/batik-bridge/src/main/java/org/apache/batik/bridge/AbstractSVGGradientElementBridge.java
@@ -313,9 +313,8 @@ public Stop createStop(BridgeContext ctx,
 
             String s = stopElement.getAttributeNS(null, SVG_OFFSET_ATTRIBUTE);
             if (s.length() == 0) {
-                throw new BridgeException
-                    (ctx, stopElement, ERR_ATTRIBUTE_MISSING,
-                     new Object[] {SVG_OFFSET_ATTRIBUTE});
+                //use default value according to the specification
+                s = "0";
             }
             float offset;
             try {