diff --git a/docs/resources/xml.md.erb b/docs/resources/xml.md.erb
index 3a1164d88..ddbf35353 100644
--- a/docs/resources/xml.md.erb
+++ b/docs/resources/xml.md.erb
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ where
 
 <br>
 
+In the event the path contains an element which contains periods, the alternate syntax can be used:
+
+    its(['root/name.with.a.period']) { should cmp 'so_many_dots' }
+
 ## Examples
 
 The following examples show how to use this InSpec audit resource.
diff --git a/lib/resources/xml.rb b/lib/resources/xml.rb
index 7e3a5d985..e614e9db0 100644
--- a/lib/resources/xml.rb
+++ b/lib/resources/xml.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ module Inspec::Resources
     example "
       describe xml('default.xml') do
         its('key/sub_key') { should eq(['value']) }
+        its(['root/name.with.a.period']) { should cmp 'so_many_dots' }
       end
     "