diff --git a/python/bllipparser/ParsingShell.py b/python/bllipparser/ParsingShell.py
index 1b12737..4fb46b3 100644
--- a/python/bllipparser/ParsingShell.py
+++ b/python/bllipparser/ParsingShell.py
@@ -15,10 +15,17 @@
 import nltk.tree
 try:
     import nltk.draw.tree
-    have_tree_drawing = True
+    have_tree_drawing = False
     read_nltk_tree = nltk.tree.Tree.parse
+    have_tree_drawing = True
 except ImportError:
     have_tree_drawing = False
+except AttributeError:
+    try:
+        read_nltk_tree = nltk.tree.Tree.fromstring
+        have_tree_drawing = True
+    except AttributeError:
+        have_tree_drawing = False
 
 from bllipparser.RerankingParser import RerankingParser