diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/language/gobject_object.py b/blueprintcompiler/language/gobject_object.py
index e36e4ce..e3960ab 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/language/gobject_object.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/language/gobject_object.py
@@ -97,13 +97,15 @@ class Object(AstNode):
             if child.response_id
         ]
 
-    def emit_xml(self, xml: XmlEmitter):
-        from .gtkbuilder_child import Child
-
+    def emit_start_tag(self, xml: XmlEmitter):
         xml.start_tag("object", **{
             "class": self.gir_class or self.tokens["class_name"],
             "id": self.tokens["id"],
         })
+
+    def emit_xml(self, xml: XmlEmitter):
+        self.emit_start_tag(xml)
+
         for child in self.children:
             child.emit_xml(xml)
 
diff --git a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_template.py b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_template.py
index 0de7381..7806285 100644
--- a/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_template.py
+++ b/blueprintcompiler/language/gtkbuilder_template.py
@@ -41,15 +41,12 @@ class Template(Object):
     def unique_in_parent(self):
         self.validate_unique_in_parent(f"Only one template may be defined per file, but this file contains {len(self.parent.children[Template])}",)
 
-    def emit_xml(self, xml: XmlEmitter):
+    def emit_start_tag(self, xml: XmlEmitter):
         xml.start_tag(
             "template",
             **{"class": self.tokens["name"]},
             parent=self.gir_class or self.tokens["class_name"]
         )
-        for child in self.children:
-            child.emit_xml(xml)
-        xml.end_tag()
 
 
 @decompiler("template")
diff --git a/tests/samples/action_widgets.blp b/tests/samples/action_widgets.blp
index 2d4d6ae..34293a0 100644
--- a/tests/samples/action_widgets.blp
+++ b/tests/samples/action_widgets.blp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 using Gtk 4.0;
 
-Dialog {
+template MyDialog : Dialog {
     [action response=cancel]
     Button cancel_button {
         label: _("Cancel");
diff --git a/tests/samples/action_widgets.ui b/tests/samples/action_widgets.ui
index 91b6e64..8c41bb2 100644
--- a/tests/samples/action_widgets.ui
+++ b/tests/samples/action_widgets.ui
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <interface>
   <requires lib="gtk" version="4.0"/>
-  <object class="GtkDialog">
+  <template class="MyDialog" parent="GtkDialog">
     <child type="action">
       <object class="GtkButton" id="cancel_button">
         <property name="label" translatable="true">Cancel</property>
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
       <action-widget response="9">custom_response_button</action-widget>
       <action-widget response="ok" default="True">ok_button</action-widget>
     </action-widgets>
-  </object>
+  </template>
   <object class="GtkInfoBar">
     <child type="action">
       <object class="GtkButton" id="ok_info_button">