diff --git a/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.cpp b/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.cpp
index f1ebe3a..9421efe 100644
--- a/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.cpp
+++ b/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.cpp
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ namespace ctui
 		return _absolute_bounds;
 	}
 
-	const Widget& Widget::get_parent() const
+	const Widget* Widget::get_parent() const
 	{
-		return *_parent;
+		return _parent;
 	}
 
 	void Widget::set_parent(Container* parent_ptr)
diff --git a/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.h b/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.h
index 71153bd..29ce240 100644
--- a/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.h
+++ b/Source/Widgets/ctui_widget.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ namespace ctui {
         [[nodiscard]] const Rect& get_relative_bounds() const;
         [[nodiscard]] const Rect& get_absolute_bounds() const;
 
-        [[nodiscard]] const Widget& get_parent() const;
+        [[nodiscard]] const Widget* get_parent() const;
 
         void set_parent(Container* parent_ptr);