diff --git a/src/dom-parts/AttributePart.js b/src/dom-parts/AttributePart.js
index f7b71e5..7ad8633 100644
--- a/src/dom-parts/AttributePart.js
+++ b/src/dom-parts/AttributePart.js
@@ -83,7 +83,9 @@ export const processAttributePart = (node, name) => {
     }
 
     // event attribute: @event=${...} || "old school" event attribute: onevent=${...}
-    if (name.startsWith('@') || name.startsWith('on')) {
+    // Note: require at least one character after "on" so that a plain `on` attribute
+    // is treated as a regular string attribute (see #163).
+    if (name.startsWith('@') || (name.startsWith('on') && name.length > 2)) {
         return processEventAttribute(node, name);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/dom-parts/TemplateResult.js b/src/dom-parts/TemplateResult.js
index df7c241..c082c96 100644
--- a/src/dom-parts/TemplateResult.js
+++ b/src/dom-parts/TemplateResult.js
@@ -297,7 +297,9 @@ export class TemplateResult {
                         ];
                     }
 
-                    if (name.startsWith('@') || name.startsWith('on')) {
+                    // Note: require at least one character after "on" so that a plain `on`
+                    // attribute is treated as a regular string attribute (see #163).
+                    if (name.startsWith('@') || (name.startsWith('on') && name.length > 2)) {
                         return [
                             {
                                 type: 'attribute',
diff --git a/test/unit/template-bindings.test.js b/test/unit/template-bindings.test.js
index 536f45e..21c4a5a 100644
--- a/test/unit/template-bindings.test.js
+++ b/test/unit/template-bindings.test.js
@@ -303,6 +303,37 @@ describe(`template bindings for rendering TemplateResults client side and server
         assert.equal(el.bar, 'baz');
     });
 
+    // Regression for #163: an attribute literally named `on` must not be routed
+    // through the event-binding code path (which would call addEventListener with
+    // an empty event type and a non-function listener).
+    it('treats a plain `on` attribute as a string attribute, not an event', async () => {
+        const el = document.createElement('div');
+        const value = 'default';
+        const templateResult = html`<button on="${value}">Label</button>`;
+        render(templateResult, el);
+        assert.equal(stripCommentMarkers(el.innerHTML), '<button on="default">Label</button>');
+        assert.equal(
+            stripCommentMarkers(el.innerHTML),
+            stripCommentMarkers(templateResult.toString()),
+            'CSR template does not match SSR template',
+        );
+
+        const button = el.querySelector('button');
+        assert.equal(button.getAttribute('on'), 'default');
+    });
+
+    it('updates a plain `on` attribute on rerender', async () => {
+        const el = document.createElement('div');
+        render(html`<button on="${'default'}">Label</button>`, el);
+        assert.equal(el.querySelector('button').getAttribute('on'), 'default');
+
+        render(html`<button on="${''}">Label</button>`, el);
+        assert.equal(el.querySelector('button').getAttribute('on'), '');
+
+        render(html`<button on="${'other'}">Label</button>`, el);
+        assert.equal(el.querySelector('button').getAttribute('on'), 'other');
+    });
+
     it('can render conditional nested html templates', async () => {
         const el = document.createElement('div');
         const nested = true;