diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
index 66321af..50c59ed 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
@@ -184,9 +184,10 @@ class StringTree: # export
         if depth_first == False:
             raise Exception("tried to retrieve child list with breadth-first search, not yet implemented")
         r = []
-        for c in self.children:
+        for name, c in self.children.items():
             r.append(c)
-            r.extend(c.to_list())
+            r.extend(c.child_list())
+        return r
 
     def dump(self, prio: int, *args, **kwargs) -> None:
         caller = kwargs['caller'] if 'caller' in kwargs.keys() else get_caller_pos(1)