diff --git a/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0377/stanza.py b/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0377/stanza.py
index 89ec66a9..1930c382 100644
--- a/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0377/stanza.py
+++ b/slixmpp/plugins/xep_0377/stanza.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ class Report(ElementBase):
         abuse    -- Flag the report as abuse
         spam     -- Flag the report as spam
         text     -- Add a reason to the report
+
+    Only one <spam/> or <abuse/> element can be present at once.
     """
     name = "report"
     namespace = "urn:xmpp:reporting:0"
@@ -33,29 +35,34 @@ class Report(ElementBase):
     interfaces = ("spam", "abuse", "text")
     sub_interfaces = {'text'}
 
+    def _purge_spam(self):
+        spam = self.xml.findall('{%s}spam' % self.namespace)
+        for element in spam:
+            self.xml.remove(element)
+
+    def _purge_abuse(self):
+        abuse = self.xml.findall('{%s}abuse' % self.namespace)
+        for element in abuse:
+            self.xml.remove(element)
+
     def get_spam(self):
         return self.xml.find('{%s}spam' % self.namespace) is not None
 
     def set_spam(self, value):
-        if bool(value) and not self.get_spam():
+        self._purge_spam()
+        if bool(value):
+            self._purge_abuse()
             self.xml.append(ET.Element('{%s}spam' % self.namespace))
-        elif not bool(value):
-            found = self.xml.findall('{%s}spam' % self.namespace)
-            if elm:
-                for item in found:
-                    self.xml.remove(item)
 
     def get_abuse(self):
         return self.xml.find('{%s}abuse' % self.namespace) is not None
 
     def set_abuse(self, value):
-        if bool(value) and not self.get_abuse():
+        self._purge_abuse()
+        if bool(value):
+            self._purge_spam()
             self.xml.append(ET.Element('{%s}abuse' % self.namespace))
-        elif not bool(value):
-            found = self.xml.findall('{%s}abuse' % self.namespace)
-            if elm:
-                for item in found:
-                    self.xml.remove(item)
+
 
 class Text(ElementBase):
     name = "text"