diff --git a/ref.xsl b/ref.xsl
index 4fc8e6cb..db744c29 100644
--- a/ref.xsl
+++ b/ref.xsl
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+
 <!--
 
 Copyright (c) 1999 - 2008 XMPP Standards Foundation
@@ -22,8 +24,6 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 
 -->
 
-<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
-
 <!-- Author: stpeter
      Description: transforms XEP meta-data into IETF reference
 -->
diff --git a/xep.xsl b/xep.xsl
index 1bcc46b6..5ea7703e 100644
--- a/xep.xsl
+++ b/xep.xsl
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+
 <!--
 
 Copyright (c) 1999 - 2008 XMPP Standards Foundation