diff --git a/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc b/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc
index 6ed571dbb00..8f00ba745c9 100644
--- a/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc
+++ b/src/dbSta/src/dbNetwork.cc
@@ -843,6 +843,9 @@ Instance* dbNetwork::parent(const Instance* instance) const
   if (instance == top_instance_) {
     return nullptr;
   }
+  if (!hasHierarchy()) {
+    return top_instance_;
+  }
   dbInst* db_inst;
   dbModInst* mod_inst;
   staToDb(instance, db_inst, mod_inst);