diff --git a/Classes/PHPWord/Section.php b/Classes/PHPWord/Section.php
index bdf37f81..63eeaf03 100755
--- a/Classes/PHPWord/Section.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPWord/Section.php
@@ -422,6 +422,9 @@ class PHPWord_Section
      */
     public function getFooter()
     {
+        if (!($this->_footer instanceOf PHPWord_Section_Footer)) {
+            $this->_footer = new PHPWord_Section_Footer($this->_sectionCount);
+        }
         return $this->_footer;
     }
 
diff --git a/Classes/PHPWord/Writer/Word2007.php b/Classes/PHPWord/Writer/Word2007.php
index 8d112d47..8d2e5e28 100755
--- a/Classes/PHPWord/Writer/Word2007.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPWord/Writer/Word2007.php
@@ -139,14 +139,12 @@ class PHPWord_Writer_Word2007 implements PHPWord_Writer_IWriter
                 }
 
                 $_footer = $section->getFooter();
-                if (!is_null($_footer)) {
-                    $_cFtrs++;
-                    $_footer->setRelationId(++$rID);
-                    $_footerCount = $_footer->getFooterCount();
-                    $_footerFile = 'footer' . $_footerCount . '.xml';
-                    $sectionElements[] = array('target' => $_footerFile, 'type' => 'footer', 'rID' => $rID);
-                    $objZip->addFromString('word/' . $_footerFile, $this->getWriterPart('footer')->writeFooter($_footer));
-                }
+                $_cFtrs++;
+                $_footer->setRelationId(++$rID);
+                $_footerCount = $_footer->getFooterCount();
+                $_footerFile = 'footer' . $_footerCount . '.xml';
+                $sectionElements[] = array('target' => $_footerFile, 'type' => 'footer', 'rID' => $rID);
+                $objZip->addFromString('word/' . $_footerFile, $this->getWriterPart('footer')->writeFooter($_footer));
             }
 
             if (PHPWord_Footnote::countFootnoteElements() > 0) {