diff --git a/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py b/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py
index 13c4f9cd3..7703c4c0e 100755
--- a/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py
+++ b/misc/qet-mcp/qet_mcp.py
@@ -387,13 +387,17 @@ def _extras(root: ET.Element) -> dict:
                 tb, {"folio": n, "name": tb.get("name", "")},
                 {"x": tb.get("x", ""), "y": tb.get("y", ""), "width": tb.get("width", ""),
                  "height": tb.get("height", ""), "rows_shown": tb.get("display_n_row", "")}))
-        for t in d.iter("input"):
+        # The folio's own items only: direct children of its <inputs>,
+        # <shapes> and <images>. Symbols in older files carry their own
+        # <inputs><input> texts, which iter() would count as free texts
+        # (122 extra in schema_indus.qet).
+        for t in d.findall("inputs/input"):
             texts.append(record(
                 t, {"folio": n, "x": t.get("x", ""), "y": t.get("y", ""),
                     "text": _plain_text(t.get("text", ""))},
                 {"rotation": _angle(t.get("rotation", "0")),
                  "font": t.get("font", ""), "color": t.get("color", "")}))
-        for sh in d.iter("shape"):
+        for sh in d.findall("shapes/shape"):
             pen, brush = sh.find("pen"), sh.find("brush")
             shapes.append(record(
                 sh, {"folio": n, "type": sh.get("type", ""),
@@ -405,7 +409,7 @@ def _extras(root: ET.Element) -> dict:
                  "fill": (brush.get("color", "") if brush is not None and
                           brush.get("style", "") != "NoBrush" else "none"),
                  "rotation": _angle(sh.get("rotation", "0"))}))
-        for im in d.iter("image"):
+        for im in d.findall("images/image"):
             images.append(record(
                 im, {"folio": n, "x": im.get("x", ""), "y": im.get("y", "")},
                 {"scale": im.get("size", ""), "rotation": _angle(im.get("rotation", ""))}))
diff --git a/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py b/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py
index bf5db9505..d9310e6c2 100644
--- a/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py
+++ b/misc/qet-mcp/test_qet_mcp.py
@@ -1419,6 +1419,22 @@ class Diff(unittest.TestCase):
                 self.assertFalse(d[k]["added"] or d[k]["removed"] or d[k]["changed"])
         self.assertEqual(d["folios"]["changed"], [])
 
+    def test_a_symbols_own_texts_are_not_free_texts(self):
+        """Symbols in older files carry their own <inputs><input> texts;
+        counting them made schema_indus.qet show 124 free texts where
+        QElectroTech has 2."""
+        d = self.dir
+        a, b = d / "sym_a.qet", d / "sym_b.qet"
+        body = ('<project><diagram><elements><element uuid="{e}" type="x">'
+                '<inputs><input x="0" y="0" text="{t}"/></inputs></element></elements>'
+                '<conductors/><inputs><input uuid="{f}" x="1" y="1" text="free"/></inputs>'
+                '</diagram></project>')
+        a.write_text(body.replace("{t}", "inside"))
+        b.write_text(body.replace("{t}", "changed inside"))
+        t = m.tool_diff(str(a), str(b))["texts"]
+        self.assertEqual((t["before"], t["after"], t["added"], t["removed"], t["changed"]),
+                         (1, 1, [], [], []))
+
     def test_edited_text_reads_as_removed_plus_added(self):
         a = self.project("a.qet", texts=[(1, 2, "note")])
         b = self.project("b.qet", texts=[(1, 2, "note EDITED")])