diff --git a/mrdna/segmentmodel.py b/mrdna/segmentmodel.py
index 5dd33f5b6dd75a942162f161d9b2bde8d4c7901f..ff074d94923ad9c4b860ba24f440f778c02211ea 100644
--- a/mrdna/segmentmodel.py
+++ b/mrdna/segmentmodel.py
@@ -2830,10 +2830,20 @@ class SegmentModel(ArbdModel):
         ## clear strands
         try:
             for s in self.strands:
-                self.children.remove(s)
+                try:
+                    self.children.remove(s)
+                except:
+                    pass
+        except:
+            pass
+
+        try:
             for seg in self.segments:
-                for d in ('fwd','rev'):
-                    seg.strand_pieces[d] = []
+                try:
+                    for d in ('fwd','rev'):
+                        seg.strand_pieces[d] = []
+                except:
+                    pass
         except:
             pass
         self.strands = strands = []