diff --git a/lib/wibox/hierarchy.lua b/lib/wibox/hierarchy.lua
index f41ff6e51..db46c10e4 100644
--- a/lib/wibox/hierarchy.lua
+++ b/lib/wibox/hierarchy.lua
@@ -96,11 +96,6 @@ function hierarchy.new(context, widget, width, height, redraw_callback, layout_c
     return hierarchy_new(context, widget, width, height, redraw_callback, layout_callback, callback_arg, nil)
 end
 
---- Get the parent hierarchy of this widget hierarchy (or nil).
-function hierarchy:get_parent()
-    return self._parent
-end
-
 --- Get the widget that this hierarchy manages.
 function hierarchy:get_widget()
     return self._widget
diff --git a/spec/wibox/hierarchy_spec.lua b/spec/wibox/hierarchy_spec.lua
index 31399bef1..6472eda33 100644
--- a/spec/wibox/hierarchy_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/wibox/hierarchy_spec.lua
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ describe("wibox.hierarchy", function()
             instance = hierarchy.new(context, widget, 10, 20, nop, nop)
         end)
 
-        it("get_parent", function()
-            assert.is_nil(instance:get_parent())
-        end)
-
         it("get_widget", function()
             assert.is.equal(instance:get_widget(), widget)
         end)
@@ -155,12 +151,6 @@ describe("wibox.hierarchy", function()
             hierarchy_child = children[1]
         end)
 
-        it("get_parent", function()
-            assert.is.equal(hierarchy_child:get_parent(), hierarchy_intermediate)
-            assert.is.equal(hierarchy_intermediate:get_parent(), hierarchy_parent)
-            assert.is_nil(hierarchy_parent:get_parent())
-        end)
-
         it("get_widget", function()
             assert.is.equal(hierarchy_child:get_widget(), child)
             assert.is.equal(hierarchy_intermediate:get_widget(), intermediate)