diff --git a/sharpy/client.py b/sharpy/client.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/sharpy/client.py
+++ b/sharpy/client.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 from urllib import urlencode
 
-from elementtree.ElementTree import XML
 import httplib2
 
 from sharpy.exceptions import CheddarError, AccessDenied, BadRequest, NotFound, PreconditionFailed, CheddarFailure, NaughtyGateway, UnprocessableEntity
diff --git a/sharpy/parsers.py b/sharpy/parsers.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/sharpy/parsers.py
+++ b/sharpy/parsers.py
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-from elementtree.ElementTree import XML
+try:
+    from lxml.etree import XML
+except ImportError:
+    print "couldn't import LXML"
+    from elementtree.ElementTree import XML
 
 def parse_error(xml_str):
     error = {}
Added the ability to use lxml if it's available and to fall back to elementtree if lxml is not available.