diff --git a/src/main/java/org/xbib/marc/xml/MarcXchangeWriter.java b/src/main/java/org/xbib/marc/xml/MarcXchangeWriter.java
index 5b9a7e5..c5ac77a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/xbib/marc/xml/MarcXchangeWriter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/xbib/marc/xml/MarcXchangeWriter.java
@@ -489,18 +489,24 @@ public class MarcXchangeWriter extends MarcContentHandler implements Flushable,
     }
 
     /**
-     * Split records if configured.
+     * Split records if configured. A splitlimit of -1 prevents splitting.
      */
     private void afterRecord() {
-        if (fileNamePattern != null && getRecordCounter() % splitlimit == 0) {
-            try {
-                endCollection();
-                writer.close();
-                newWriter(fileNamePattern, fileNameCounter, bufferSize, compress);
-                setupEventConsumer(writer, indent);
-                beginCollection();
-            } catch (IOException e) {
-                logger.log(Level.SEVERE, e.getMessage(), e);
+        if (fileNamePattern != null) {
+            if (splitlimit != -1) {
+                if (getRecordCounter() % splitlimit == 0) {
+                    try {
+                        endCollection();
+                        endDocument();
+                        writer.close();
+                        newWriter(fileNamePattern, fileNameCounter, bufferSize, compress);
+                        setupEventConsumer(writer, indent);
+                        startDocument();
+                        beginCollection();
+                    } catch (IOException e) {
+                        logger.log(Level.SEVERE, e.getMessage(), e);
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/1.xml b/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/1.xml
index ee2bcc1..30d3ba3 100644
--- a/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/1.xml
+++ b/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/1.xml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <collection xmlns="info:lc/xmlns/marcxchange-v2">
   <record format="MARC21" type="Bibliographic">
     <leader>01737nam  22004334a 4500</leader>
diff --git a/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/2.xml b/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/2.xml
index b5bbca4..11aec2b 100644
--- a/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/2.xml
+++ b/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/2.xml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <collection xmlns="info:lc/xmlns/marcxchange-v2">
   <record format="MARC21" type="Bibliographic">
     <leader>01215cam  2200313 a 4500</leader>
diff --git a/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/3.xml b/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/3.xml
index aed8d48..1d214cf 100644
--- a/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/3.xml
+++ b/src/test/resources/org/xbib/marc/3.xml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <collection xmlns="info:lc/xmlns/marcxchange-v2">
   <record format="MARC21" type="Bibliographic">
     <leader>01613cam  2200409 a 4500</leader>