diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h b/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
index f5e7b34..5430b9d 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
@@ -138,9 +138,14 @@ namespace YAML
 
 	inline void Node::AssignNode(const Node& rhs)
 	{
-		EnsureNodeExists();
 		rhs.EnsureNodeExists();
 
+		if(!m_pNode) {
+			m_pNode = rhs.m_pNode;
+			m_pMemory = rhs.m_pMemory;
+			return;
+		}
+
 		m_pNode->set_ref(*rhs.m_pNode);
 		m_pMemory->merge(*rhs.m_pMemory);
 		m_pNode = rhs.m_pNode;