diff --git a/fs/hfs/brec.c b/fs/hfs/brec.c
index 9a8772465a90..da25c49203cc 100644
--- a/fs/hfs/brec.c
+++ b/fs/hfs/brec.c
@@ -425,6 +425,10 @@ static int hfs_brec_update_parent(struct hfs_find_data *fd)
 	if (new_node) {
 		__be32 cnid;
 
+		if (!new_node->parent) {
+			hfs_btree_inc_height(tree);
+			new_node->parent = tree->root;
+		}
 		fd->bnode = hfs_bnode_find(tree, new_node->parent);
 		/* create index key and entry */
 		hfs_bnode_read_key(new_node, fd->search_key, 14);