diff --git a/renderdoc/api/replay/structured_data.h b/renderdoc/api/replay/structured_data.h
index bd34585d4..1a0e9960a 100644
--- a/renderdoc/api/replay/structured_data.h
+++ b/renderdoc/api/replay/structured_data.h
@@ -920,6 +920,12 @@ private:
   SDObject *m_Parent = NULL;
   mutable LazyArrayData *m_Lazy = NULL;
 
+  // object serialisers need to be able to set the parent pointer. This is only for proxying really
+  template <class SerialiserType>
+  friend void DoSerialise(SerialiserType &ser, SDObject &el);
+  template <class SerialiserType>
+  friend void DoSerialise(SerialiserType &ser, SDChunk &el);
+
   void DeleteLazyGenerator() const
   {
     if(m_Lazy)
diff --git a/renderdoc/serialise/serialiser.cpp b/renderdoc/serialise/serialiser.cpp
index 10e5be8a8..030eac48c 100644
--- a/renderdoc/serialise/serialiser.cpp
+++ b/renderdoc/serialise/serialiser.cpp
@@ -718,6 +718,12 @@ void DoSerialise(SerialiserType &ser, SDObject &el)
   SERIALISE_MEMBER(name);
   SERIALISE_MEMBER(type);
   SERIALISE_MEMBER(data);
+
+  if(ser.IsReading())
+  {
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < el.NumChildren(); i++)
+      el.GetChild(i)->m_Parent = &el;
+  }
 }
 
 template <class SerialiserType>
@@ -727,6 +733,12 @@ void DoSerialise(SerialiserType &ser, SDChunk &el)
   SERIALISE_MEMBER(type);
   SERIALISE_MEMBER(data);
   SERIALISE_MEMBER(metadata);
+
+  if(ser.IsReading())
+  {
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < el.NumChildren(); i++)
+      el.GetChild(i)->m_Parent = &el;
+  }
 }
 
 INSTANTIATE_SERIALISE_TYPE(SDChunk);