HEADER tag use in node.tpl.php

i am trying to understand what the node.tpl.php file is doing with $title - removing the actual title printing lines for clarity, it boils down to this:

  <?php if (!$page && $title): ?>
    <header>
  <?php else: ?>
    </header>
  <?php endif; ?>

doesn't that leave you with either an unclosed or unopened HEADER tag? i thought it might be working in combination with something else but i can't find anything.