diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
index 7dd3485a67..2ac14f0c3f 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 import re
 import lark
+import numpy as np
 import ifcopenshell.api
 import ifcopenshell.util
 import ifcopenshell.util.fm
@@ -362,13 +363,14 @@ def set_element_value(
             if key in ("easting", "northing", "elevation"):
                 return
 
-            placement = getattr(element, "ObjectPlacement", None)
-            if not placement:
-                return
-            matrix = ifcopenshell.util.placement.get_local_placement(element.ObjectPlacement)
-            coord_i = "xyz".index(key)
+            placement = element.ObjectPlacement
+            if placement is None:
+                matrix = np.eye(4)
+            else:
+                matrix = ifcopenshell.util.placement.get_local_placement(placement)
 
             # check if value is within tolerance to avoid api calls
+            coord_i = "xyz".index(key)
             prev_value = matrix[coord_i][3]
             new_value = float(value) if value else 0.0
             TOLERANCE = 1.0e-5
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py
index ca1ac952c9..d913313954 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import pytest
 import test.bootstrap
 import ifcopenshell.api
 import ifcopenshell.util.selector as subject
+import ifcopenshell.util.placement
 import numpy as np
 
 
@@ -272,14 +273,24 @@ class TestSetElementValue(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
     def test_set_xyz_coordinates(self):
         ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcProject")
         ifcopenshell.api.run("unit.assign_unit", self.file)
-        element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")
-        ifcopenshell.api.run("geometry.edit_object_placement", self.file, product=element, is_si=False)
-        for coord, value in zip("xyz", ("5", "10", "15")):
-            subject.set_element_value(self.file, element, coord, value)
+
+        items = list(zip("xyz", ("5", "10", "15")))
         matrix = np.eye(4)
         matrix[:, 3] = (5, 10, 15, 1)
+
+        element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("geometry.edit_object_placement", self.file, product=element, is_si=False)
+        for coord, value in items:
+            subject.set_element_value(self.file, element, coord, value)
         assert np.array_equal(ifcopenshell.util.placement.get_local_placement(element.ObjectPlacement), matrix)
 
+        element_without_placement = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")
+        for coord, value in items:
+            subject.set_element_value(self.file, element_without_placement, coord, value)
+        assert np.array_equal(
+            ifcopenshell.util.placement.get_local_placement(element_without_placement.ObjectPlacement), matrix
+        )
+
 
 class TestSelector(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
     def test_selecting_by_class(self):