diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 6565192b91..29e931e217 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -2472,18 +2472,20 @@ void bdrv_root_unref_child(BdrvChild *child)
     bdrv_unref(child_bs);
 }
 
-void bdrv_unref_child(BlockDriverState *parent, BdrvChild *child)
+/**
+ * Clear all inherits_from pointers from children and grandchildren of
+ * @root that point to @root, where necessary.
+ */
+static void bdrv_unset_inherits_from(BlockDriverState *root, BdrvChild *child)
 {
-    if (child == NULL) {
-        return;
-    }
+    BdrvChild *c;
 
-    if (child->bs->inherits_from == parent) {
-        BdrvChild *c;
-
-        /* Remove inherits_from only when the last reference between parent and
-         * child->bs goes away. */
-        QLIST_FOREACH(c, &parent->children, next) {
+    if (child->bs->inherits_from == root) {
+        /*
+         * Remove inherits_from only when the last reference between root and
+         * child->bs goes away.
+         */
+        QLIST_FOREACH(c, &root->children, next) {
             if (c != child && c->bs == child->bs) {
                 break;
             }
@@ -2493,6 +2495,18 @@ void bdrv_unref_child(BlockDriverState *parent, BdrvChild *child)
         }
     }
 
+    QLIST_FOREACH(c, &child->bs->children, next) {
+        bdrv_unset_inherits_from(root, c);
+    }
+}
+
+void bdrv_unref_child(BlockDriverState *parent, BdrvChild *child)
+{
+    if (child == NULL) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    bdrv_unset_inherits_from(parent, child);
     bdrv_root_unref_child(child);
 }