diff --git a/src/core.js b/src/core.js
index e1330e7..eba82bf 100644
--- a/src/core.js
+++ b/src/core.js
@@ -414,6 +414,10 @@ var CryptoJS = CryptoJS || (function (Math, undefined) {
         parse: function (hexStr) {
             // Shortcut
             var hexStrLength = hexStr.length;
+            if( hexStrLength % 2 === 1 ){
+                hexStr = '0' + hexStr
+                hexStrLength = hexStrLength + 1
+            }
 
             // Convert
             var words = [];