diff --git a/wani.py b/wani.py
index e9c7f06..2e14537 100644
--- a/wani.py
+++ b/wani.py
@@ -177,10 +177,10 @@ class Restriction:
         restriction_type = restriction_tag.get('type')
         if restriction_type == "morphology":
             self.type = RestrictionType.Morphology
-            self.matcher = build_morphology_regex(restriction_tag.getchildren())
+            self.matcher = build_morphology_regex(list(restriction_tag))
         elif restriction_type == "lexis":
             self.type = RestrictionType.Lexis
-            self.matcher = build_lexis_regex(restriction_tag.getchildren())
+            self.matcher = build_lexis_regex(list(restriction_tag))
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError()
 
@@ -318,14 +318,14 @@ class SyntacticStructure:
         st.id = xml.get('id')
         st.lbs = xml.get('LBS')
 
-        components, system = xml.getchildren()
-        dependencies, restrictions = system.getchildren()
+        components, system = list(xml)
+        dependencies, restrictions = list(system)
 
         assert(system.get('type') == 'JOS')
 
         deps = [ (dep.get('from'), dep.get('to'), dep.get('label')) for dep in dependencies ]
         comps = { comp.get('cid'): comp.get('name') for comp in components }
-        restrs = { r.get('cid'): r.getchildren()[0] for r in restrictions }
+        restrs = { r.get('cid'): next(iter(r)) for r in restrictions }
 
         st.root_component.find_next(deps, comps, restrs)
         st.root_component = list(st.root_component)[0][0]  # get first next
@@ -376,6 +376,7 @@ def load_corpus(filename):
         xmlstring = xmlstring.replace(' xml:', ' ')
         et = ElementTree.XML(xmlstring)
 
+    root_words = set()
     words = {}
     for w in et.iter("w"):
         words[w.get('id')] = Word(w)
@@ -394,10 +395,15 @@ def load_corpus(filename):
         # catch modra links from root
         elif lfrom[-1] == '0' and l.get('afun') == 'modra':
             root_words.add(l.get('dep'))
-            pass
+
         else:
             # strange errors, just skip...
             pass
+
+    no_root_words = [w for k, w in words.items() if k in root_words]
+    missing = root_words - set(w.id for w in no_root_words)
+    # what should i do with this I forgot :(
+
     return list(words.values())