diff --git a/tests/abstract.py b/tests/abstract.py
index 7223f219..9f353f6a 100644
--- a/tests/abstract.py
+++ b/tests/abstract.py
@@ -1000,3 +1000,26 @@ def test_missing_pkey(self):
         """
         with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             self.datatype_class(None)
+
+    def test_nested_subtype_from_xml_element(self, dov_xml):
+        """Test initialising the subtype(s) from the XML document.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        dov_xml : pytest.fixture returning bytes
+            Fixture providing DOV XML data.
+        """
+        def instance_from_xml(clz, xml):
+            if len(clz.subtypes) == 0:
+                return
+
+            if xml is None:
+                return
+
+            st_instance = next(
+                clz.subtypes[0].from_xml(dov_xml))
+            assert isinstance(st_instance, clz.subtypes[0])
+
+            instance_from_xml(clz.subtypes[0], dov_xml)
+
+        instance_from_xml(self.datatype_class, dov_xml)
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 8cf0f4fe..fcf1d169 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -314,7 +314,35 @@ def __get_remote_wfs_feature(*args, **kwargs):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def mp_dov_xml(monkeypatch, request):
+def dov_xml(request):
+    """Fixture providing the DOV XML data.
+
+    This fixture requires a module variable ``location_dov_xml``
+    with the path to the dov_xml file on disk.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    request : pytest.fixture
+        PyTest fixture providing request context.
+
+    """
+    if not hasattr(request.module, "location_dov_xml"):
+        return
+
+    file_path = getattr(request.module, "location_dov_xml")
+
+    if file_path is None or not os.path.isfile(file_path):
+        return None
+
+    with open(file_path, 'r', encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        data = f.read()
+        if not isinstance(data, bytes):
+            data = data.encode('utf-8')
+    return data
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mp_dov_xml(monkeypatch, dov_xml):
     """Monkeypatch the call to get the remote XML data.
 
     This monkeypatch requires a module variable ``location_dov_xml``
@@ -328,14 +356,8 @@ def mp_dov_xml(monkeypatch, request):
         PyTest fixture providing request context.
 
     """
-
     def _get_xml_data(*args, **kwargs):
-        file_path = getattr(request.module, "location_dov_xml")
-        with open(file_path, 'r', encoding="utf-8") as f:
-            data = f.read()
-            if not isinstance(data, bytes):
-                data = data.encode('utf-8')
-        return data
+        return dov_xml
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(pydov.types.abstract.AbstractDovType,
                         '_get_xml_data', _get_xml_data)