diff --git a/lib/rexml/document.rb b/lib/rexml/document.rb
index 558b5d731a..2b6ee24087 100644
--- a/lib/rexml/document.rb
+++ b/lib/rexml/document.rb
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ module REXML
 		def add( child )
 			if child.kind_of? XMLDecl
 				@children.unshift child
+        child.parent = self
 			elsif child.kind_of? DocType
         # Find first Element or DocType node and insert the decl right 
         # before it.  If there is no such node, just insert the child at the