Index: src/pmc/namespace.pmc
===================================================================
--- src/pmc/namespace.pmc	(revision 49323)
+++ src/pmc/namespace.pmc	(working copy)
@@ -468,8 +468,10 @@
         if (val_is_NS) {
             /* TODO - this hack needs to go */
             Parrot_NameSpace_attributes *nsinfo = PARROT_NAMESPACE(value);
-            nsinfo->parent = SELF;  /* set parent */
-            nsinfo->name   = key;   /* and name */
+            if (PMC_IS_NULL(nsinfo->parent)) {
+                nsinfo->parent = SELF;  /* set parent */
+                nsinfo->name   = key;   /* and name */
+            }
 
             if (new_tuple) {
                 VTABLE_set_pmc_keyed_int(INTERP, new_tuple, NS_slot_ns, value);