<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <defs> <path id="path" d="" /> </defs> <rect fill="lime" width="100%" height="100%"/> <text y="50" font-size="50" fill="red" > <textPath path="">Empty paths should be invisible</textPath> </text> <text y="100" font-size="50" fill="red" > <textPath href="#path">Empty paths should be invisible</textPath> </text> <text y="150" font-size="50" fill="red" > <textPath>No path at all should be invisible too</textPath> </text> </svg>