diff --git a/src/docx/oxml/parser.py b/src/docx/oxml/parser.py
index 7e6a0fb49..c34d5b525 100644
--- a/src/docx/oxml/parser.py
+++ b/src/docx/oxml/parser.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 # -- configure XML parser --
 element_class_lookup = etree.ElementNamespaceClassLookup()
-oxml_parser = etree.XMLParser(remove_blank_text=True, resolve_entities=False)
+oxml_parser = etree.XMLParser(remove_blank_text=True, resolve_entities=False, huge_tree=True)
 oxml_parser.set_element_class_lookup(element_class_lookup)