diff --git a/thesis/Makefile b/thesis/Makefile
index 1d21e09..37751f6 100644
--- a/thesis/Makefile
+++ b/thesis/Makefile
@@ -6,21 +6,21 @@
 thesis:
 	mkdir -p build
 	cp references.bib build/
-	pdflatex -output-directory=build thesis.tex
+	xelatex -file-line-error -output-directory=build thesis.tex
 	cd build; bibtex thesis
-	pdflatex -output-directory=build thesis.tex
-	pdflatex -output-directory=build thesis.tex
+	xelatex -file-line-error -output-directory=build thesis.tex
+	xelatex -file-line-error -output-directory=build thesis.tex
 	cp build/thesis.pdf ./
 
 fast:
 	mkdir -p build
-	pdflatex -output-directory=build thesis.tex
+	xelatex -file-line-error -output-directory=build thesis.tex
 	cp build/thesis.pdf ./
 
 images:
 	mkdir -p build
-	pdflatex -output-directory=build images.tex
-	pdflatex -output-directory=build images.tex
+	xelatex -file-line-error -output-directory=build images.tex
+	xelatex -file-line-error -output-directory=build images.tex
 	scp build/images.pdf moerman@stitch.science.ru.nl:~/wvlt_images.pdf
 	ssh moerman@stitch.science.ru.nl 'pdf2svg wvlt_images.pdf wvlt_images.svg'
 	scp moerman@stitch.science.ru.nl:~/wvlt_images.svg ./images.svg
diff --git a/thesis/preamble.tex b/thesis/preamble.tex
index 8595e71..7d2e7a1 100644
--- a/thesis/preamble.tex
+++ b/thesis/preamble.tex
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 
+% font with unicode support
+\usepackage{fontspec}
+
 % clickable tocs
 \usepackage{hyperref}
 
 % use english
-\usepackage[english, british]{babel}
+\usepackage{polyglossia}
+\setmainlanguage[variant=british]{english}
 
 % floating figures
 \usepackage{float}