diff --git a/src/jsx-loader.js b/src/jsx-loader.js
index e84aad4..370b945 100644
--- a/src/jsx-loader.js
+++ b/src/jsx-loader.js
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export function getParser(moduleURL) {
   };
 }
 
+// replace all instances of __this__ marker with relative reference to the custom element parent node
 function applyDomDepthSubstitutions(tree, currentDepth = 1, hasShadowRoot = false) {
   try {
     for (const node of tree.childNodes) {
@@ -50,9 +51,9 @@ function applyDomDepthSubstitutions(tree, currentDepth = 1, hasShadowRoot = fals
           const { value } = attrs[attr];
 
           if (value.indexOf('__this__.') >= 0) {
-            const root = hasShadowRoot ? 'parentNode.host' : 'parentElement';
+            const root = hasShadowRoot ? '.getRootNode().host' : `${'.parentElement'.repeat(currentDepth)}`;
 
-            node.attrs[attr].value = value.replace(/__this__/g, `this${'.parentElement'.repeat(currentDepth - 1)}.${root}`);
+            node.attrs[attr].value = value.replace(/__this__/g, `this${root}`);
           }
         }
       }
diff --git a/test/cases/jsx-shadow-dom/jsx-shadow-dom.spec.js b/test/cases/jsx-shadow-dom/jsx-shadow-dom.spec.js
index 5bdf3ee..5721c53 100644
--- a/test/cases/jsx-shadow-dom/jsx-shadow-dom.spec.js
+++ b/test/cases/jsx-shadow-dom/jsx-shadow-dom.spec.js
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ describe('Run WCC For ', function() {
           const wrapper = new JSDOM(heading.innerHTML);
           const button = wrapper.window.document.querySelector('button');
 
-          expect(button.getAttribute('onclick')).to.be.equal('this.parentElement.parentNode.host.sayHello()');
+          expect(button.getAttribute('onclick')).to.be.equal('this.getRootNode().host.sayHello()');
         });
       });