diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
index 7541ddbd9..a83d78c39 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
@@ -106,11 +106,6 @@
 struct nvme_request {
 	struct nvme_command		cmd;
 
-	/**
-	 * Points to a parent request if part of a split request,
-	 *   NULL otherwise.
-	 */
-	struct nvme_request		*parent;
 	union {
 		void			*payload;
 	} u;
@@ -148,6 +143,12 @@ struct nvme_request {
 	 */
 	TAILQ_ENTRY(nvme_request)	child_tailq;
 
+	/**
+	 * Points to a parent request if part of a split request,
+	 *   NULL otherwise.
+	 */
+	struct nvme_request		*parent;
+
 	/**
 	 * Completion status for a parent request.  Initialized to all 0's
 	 *  (SUCCESS) before child requests are submitted.  If a child
diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_ns_cmd.c b/lib/nvme/nvme_ns_cmd.c
index 65446800c..7e94878dd 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_ns_cmd.c
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_ns_cmd.c
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ nvme_request_add_child(struct nvme_request *parent, struct nvme_request *child)
 		 *  relatively rare.
 		 */
 		TAILQ_INIT(&parent->children);
+		parent->parent = NULL;
 		memset(&parent->parent_status, 0, sizeof(struct nvme_completion));
 	}