diff --git a/direct/src/distributed/DistributedNode.py b/direct/src/distributed/DistributedNode.py
index af4aa10e82..d0101dea2a 100644
--- a/direct/src/distributed/DistributedNode.py
+++ b/direct/src/distributed/DistributedNode.py
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ class DistributedNode(DistributedObject.DistributedObject, NodePath):
             self.DistributedNode_initialized = 1
             self.gotStringParentToken = 0
             DistributedObject.DistributedObject.__init__(self, cr)
-            NodePath.__init__(self, "DistributedNode")
+            if not self.this:
+                NodePath.__init__(self, "DistributedNode")
 
             # initialize gridParent
             self.gridParent = None