diff --git a/particle.c b/particle.c
index a280e11..ead9142 100644
--- a/particle.c
+++ b/particle.c
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ struct particle *
 particle_common_new(int left_margin, int right_margin)
 {
     struct particle *p = malloc(sizeof(*p));
-    p->parent = NULL;
     p->left_margin = left_margin;
     p->right_margin = right_margin;
     p->deco = NULL;
diff --git a/particle.h b/particle.h
index 375d533..0616db6 100644
--- a/particle.h
+++ b/particle.h
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 struct exposable;
 
 struct particle {
-    struct particle *parent;
     void *private;
 
     int left_margin, right_margin;
diff --git a/particles/list.c b/particles/list.c
index 3a0c1d9..2a179d6 100644
--- a/particles/list.c
+++ b/particles/list.c
@@ -124,9 +124,5 @@ particle_list_new(
     particle->destroy = &particle_destroy;
     particle->instantiate = &instantiate;
 
-    /* Claim ownership */
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++)
-        p->particles[i]->parent = particle;
-
     return particle;
 }
diff --git a/particles/map.c b/particles/map.c
index ee93497..901d797 100644
--- a/particles/map.c
+++ b/particles/map.c
@@ -73,12 +73,8 @@ particle_map_new(const char *tag, const struct particle_map *particle_map,
     for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++) {
         map->map[i].tag_value = strdup(particle_map[i].tag_value);
         map->map[i].particle = particle_map[i].particle;
-        map->map[i].particle->parent = particle;
     }
 
-    if (map->default_particle != NULL)
-        map->default_particle->parent = particle;
-
     particle->private = map;
     return particle;
 }