diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Parent/HasParent.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Parent/HasParent.cs
index 01128314e3e9..bb8b5edb49a5 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Parent/HasParent.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/Parent/HasParent.cs
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ public HasParent(ActorInitializer init)
 
 		void ITransformActorInitModifier.ModifyTransformActorInit(Actor self, TypeDictionary init)
 		{
-			init.Add(new ParentActorInit(Parent));
+			if (Parent != null)
+				init.Add(new ParentActorInit(Parent));
 		}
 	}
 }