diff --git a/src/ifcpatch/ifcpatch.py b/src/ifcpatch/ifcpatch.py
index 6def4ce78c..00b88b97af 100644
--- a/src/ifcpatch/ifcpatch.py
+++ b/src/ifcpatch/ifcpatch.py
@@ -15,12 +15,17 @@ def execute(args, is_library=None):
             args['input'], ifc_file, logger, args['arguments'])
     print('# Patching ...')
     patcher.patch()
-    if is_library is not None:
+    ifc_file = patcher.file
+    if is_library is True:
         return ifc_file
     print('# Writing patched file ...')
     if not args['output']:
         args['output'] = args['input']
-    ifc_file.write(args.output)
+    if isinstance(ifc_file, str):
+        with open(args['output'], 'w') as text_file:
+            text_file.write(ifc_file)
+    else:
+        ifc_file.write(args['output'])
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
diff --git a/src/ifcpatch/recipes/RecycleNonRootedElements.py b/src/ifcpatch/recipes/RecycleNonRootedElements.py
index 6407e24150..48ec179dd5 100644
--- a/src/ifcpatch/recipes/RecycleNonRootedElements.py
+++ b/src/ifcpatch/recipes/RecycleNonRootedElements.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+from collections import deque
+import ifcopenshell.util.element
+
 class Patcher:
     def __init__(self, src, file, logger, args=None):
         self.src = src
@@ -6,15 +9,27 @@ class Patcher:
         self.args = args
 
     def patch(self):
-        import ifcopenshell.util.element
+        deleted = []
         hashes = {}
         for element in self.file:
             if element.is_a('IfcRoot'):
                 continue
             h = hash(tuple(element))
             if h in hashes:
-                for inverse in f.get_inverse(element):
+                for inverse in self.file.get_inverse(element):
                     ifcopenshell.util.element.replace_attribute(inverse, element, hashes[h])
-                self.file.remove(element)
+                deleted.append(element.id())
             else:
                 hashes[h] = element
+        deleted.sort()
+        deleted_q = deque(deleted)
+        new = ''
+        for line in self.file.wrapped_data.to_string().split('\n'):
+            try:
+                if int(line.split('=')[0][1:]) != deleted_q[0]:
+                    new += (line + '\n')
+                else:
+                    deleted_q.popleft()
+            except:
+                new += (line + '\n')
+        self.file = new