Dealing with XML parsing Scala -

i dealing online xml file containing empty fields :

<item/> 

so when use scala xml api function .text :

(father \\ "item").text  

my program stops (no errors). how prevent code running in problem ?

i not find in scala api worked me (.isempty, equals(null)). maybe library me resolve problem.

(father \\ "item").text.isempty should work great.