diff --git a/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts b/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts
index 4ad642ce1b..56b172ba83 100644
--- a/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts
+++ b/ionic/components/nav/nav-controller.ts
@@ -1399,7 +1399,7 @@ export class NavController extends Ion {
     }
     this._views.length = 0;
 
-    if (this.parent) {
+    if (this.parent && this.parent.unregisterChildNav) {
       this.parent.unregisterChildNav(this);
     }
   }