diff --git a/src/fu-engine.c b/src/fu-engine.c
index 6415d49a8..fc49b07fa 100644
--- a/src/fu-engine.c
+++ b/src/fu-engine.c
@@ -4369,7 +4369,7 @@ fu_engine_adopt_children (FuEngine *self, FuDevice *device)
 					 fu_device_get_id (device),
 					 fu_device_get_name (device_tmp),
 					 fu_device_get_id (device_tmp));
-				fu_device_add_child (device_tmp, device);
+				fu_device_set_parent (device, device_tmp);
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -4389,7 +4389,7 @@ fu_engine_adopt_children (FuEngine *self, FuDevice *device)
 					 fu_device_get_id (device_tmp),
 					 fu_device_get_name (device),
 					 fu_device_get_id (device));
-				fu_device_add_child (device, device_tmp);
+				fu_device_set_parent (device_tmp, device);
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/fu-self-test.c b/src/fu-self-test.c
index 40decb5cf..0fef6b3be 100644
--- a/src/fu-self-test.c
+++ b/src/fu-self-test.c
@@ -958,7 +958,6 @@ fu_engine_device_parent_func (gconstpointer user_data)
 	g_assert (fu_device_get_parent (device3) == device2);
 	g_assert (fu_device_get_parent (device1) == device2);
 	g_assert_cmpstr (fu_device_get_vendor (device3), ==, "oem");
-	g_assert_cmpstr (fu_device_get_vendor (device1), ==, "oem");
 
 	/* verify order */
 	g_assert_cmpint (fu_device_get_order (device1), ==, 0);