diff --git a/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js b/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
index d22996f..66ebc3c 100644
--- a/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
+++ b/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
@@ -265,10 +265,7 @@
  * @private
  */
 DisplayObject.prototype.updateTransform = function () {
-    if (!this.parent) {
-        return;
-    }
-
+   
     // create some matrix refs for easy access
     var pt = this.parent.worldTransform;
     var wt = this.worldTransform;

diff --git a/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js b/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
index d22996f..66ebc3c 100644
--- a/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
+++ b/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
@@ -265,10 +265,7 @@
  * @private
  */
 DisplayObject.prototype.updateTransform = function () {
-    if (!this.parent) {
-        return;
-    }
-
+   
     // create some matrix refs for easy access
     var pt = this.parent.worldTransform;
     var wt = this.worldTransform;
diff --git a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
index b617cda..0063821 100644
--- a/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
+++ b/src/core/renderers/webgl/WebGLRenderer.js
@@ -229,6 +229,13 @@
 
     // map some webGL blend modes..
     this._mapBlendModes();
+
+    /**
+     * This temporary display object used as the parent of the currently being rendered item
+     * @member DisplayObject
+     * @private
+     */
+    this._tempDisplayObjectParent = new PIXI.DisplayObject();
 }
 
 // constructor
@@ -294,9 +301,14 @@
         return;
     }
 
+    var cacheParent = object.parent;
+    object.parent = this._tempDisplayObjectParent;
+
     // update the scene graph
     object.updateTransform();
 
+    object.parent = cacheParent;
+
     var gl = this.gl;
 
     // -- Does this need to be set every frame? -- //