diff --git a/src/core/link.js b/src/core/link.js
index 34fe4ec9dd..0899273a4d 100644
--- a/src/core/link.js
+++ b/src/core/link.js
@@ -113,7 +113,17 @@
             }
 
             if (selectedElement && CKEDITOR.env.ie) {
-                return selectedElement.getChildren('a').getItem(0);
+                var children = selectedElement.getChildren();
+
+                var count = children.count();
+
+                for (var i = 0 ; i < count ; i++) {
+                    var node = children.getItem(i);
+
+                    if (node.is('a')) {
+                        return node;
+                    }
+                }
             }
 
             var range = selection.getRanges()[0];