diff --git a/odf2legi/odf2legi.py b/odf2legi/odf2legi.py
index 128e6f7..feef1ef 100644
--- a/odf2legi/odf2legi.py
+++ b/odf2legi/odf2legi.py
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ def fill_inline(para, elem, invert_bg=False):
                 # another situation that happens with some copy/pasting from
                 # Microsoft Word
                 fill_inline(para, child)
+            elif len(child.getchildren()):
+                fill_inline(para, child)
             else:
                 handle_little_span(para, child, False)