diff --git a/src/ocrmypdf/hocrtransform.py b/src/ocrmypdf/hocrtransform.py
index f1446535..8ad25aeb 100755
--- a/src/ocrmypdf/hocrtransform.py
+++ b/src/ocrmypdf/hocrtransform.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class HocrTransform:
         text = ''
         if element.text is not None:
             text += element.text
-        for child in element.getchildren():
+        for child in element:
             text += self._get_element_text(child)
         if element.tail is not None:
             text += element.tail