diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index 3876618c2e500c9c152f1b60da88324a6a1ea650..7cefdf2137a1e64a74c064d013b6232ef15c6dcc 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -402,6 +402,7 @@ void object_unparent(Object *obj)
     }
     if (obj->parent) {
         object_property_del_child(obj->parent, obj, NULL);
+        obj->parent = NULL;
     }
     object_unref(obj);
 }