diff --git a/openmc/material.py b/openmc/material.py
index af42e2e249..9e3951ccf4 100644
--- a/openmc/material.py
+++ b/openmc/material.py
@@ -1449,16 +1449,19 @@ class Materials(cv.CheckedList):
         for material in self:
             material.make_isotropic_in_lab()
 
-    def _write_xml(self, file):
+    def _write_xml(self, file, header=True):
         """Writes XML content of the materials to an open file handle.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         file : IOTextWrapper
             Open file handle to write content into.
+        header : bool
+            Whether or not to write the XML header
         """
         # Write the header and the opening tag for the root element.
-        file.write("<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>\n")
+        if header:
+            file.write("<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>\n")
         file.write('<materials>\n')
 
         # Write the <cross_sections> element.
diff --git a/openmc/model/model.py b/openmc/model/model.py
index 5a1b86a1ff..1af3bdffc9 100644
--- a/openmc/model/model.py
+++ b/openmc/model/model.py
@@ -444,9 +444,12 @@ class Model:
 
         with open(d, 'w', encoding='utf-8',
                   errors='xmlcharrefreplace') as fh:
+            # write the XML header
+            fh.write("<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>\n")
+            fh.write("<model>\n")
             # Write the materials collection to the open XML file first.
             # This will write the XML header also
-            materials._write_xml(fh)
+            materials._write_xml(fh, False)
             # Write remaining elements as a tree
             ET.ElementTree(geometry_element).write(fh, encoding='unicode')
             ET.ElementTree(settings_element).write(fh, encoding='unicode')
@@ -457,6 +460,7 @@ class Model:
             if self.plots:
                 plots_element = self.plots.to_xml_element()
                 ET.ElementTree(plots_element).write(fh, encoding='unicode')
+            fh.write("</model>\n")
 
     def import_properties(self, filename):
         """Import physical properties