diff --git a/core/src/avm1/activation.rs b/core/src/avm1/activation.rs
index 254d05e7d..bb885f27f 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/activation.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/activation.rs
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
         let depth = self.context.avm1.pop();
         let target = self.context.avm1.pop();
         let source = self.context.avm1.pop();
-        let start_clip = self.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let start_clip = self.target_clip_or_root();
         let source_clip = self.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, source, true)?;
 
         if let Some(movie_clip) = source_clip.and_then(|o| o.as_movie_clip()) {
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
     fn action_call(&mut self) -> Result<FrameControl<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
         // Runs any actions on the given frame.
         let arg = self.context.avm1.pop();
-        let target = self.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let target = self.target_clip_or_root();
 
         // The parameter can be a frame # or a path to a movie clip with a frame number.
         let mut call_frame = None;
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
         let variable = self.get_variable(fn_name)?;
 
         let result = variable.call_with_default_this(
-            self.target_clip_or_root()?.object().coerce_to_object(self),
+            self.target_clip_or_root().object().coerce_to_object(self),
             fn_name,
             self,
             &args,
@@ -1196,11 +1196,11 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
             if let Value::Object(target) = target {
                 target.as_display_object()
             } else {
-                let start = self.target_clip_or_root()?;
+                let start = self.target_clip_or_root();
                 self.resolve_target_display_object(start, target, true)?
             }
         } else {
-            Some(self.target_clip_or_root()?)
+            Some(self.target_clip_or_root())
         };
 
         if action.is_load_vars() {
@@ -1313,7 +1313,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
     fn action_goto_frame_2(&mut self, action: GotoFrame2) -> Result<FrameControl<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
         // Version 4+ gotoAndPlay/gotoAndStop
         // Param can either be a frame number or a frame label.
-        if let Some(clip) = self.target_clip_or_root()?.as_movie_clip() {
+        if let Some(clip) = self.target_clip_or_root().as_movie_clip() {
             let frame = self.context.avm1.pop();
             let _ = globals::movie_clip::goto_frame(
                 clip,
@@ -1764,7 +1764,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
 
     fn action_remove_sprite(&mut self) -> Result<FrameControl<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
         let target = self.context.avm1.pop();
-        let start_clip = self.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let start_clip = self.target_clip_or_root();
         let target_clip = self.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, target, true)?;
 
         if let Some(target_clip) = target_clip {
@@ -1871,7 +1871,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
         };
 
         let scope = self.scope_cell();
-        let clip_obj = self.target_clip_or_root()?.object().coerce_to_object(self);
+        let clip_obj = self.target_clip_or_root().object().coerce_to_object(self);
 
         self.set_scope(Scope::new_target_scope(
             scope,
@@ -1891,7 +1891,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
 
     fn action_start_drag(&mut self) -> Result<FrameControl<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
         let target = self.context.avm1.pop();
-        let start_clip = self.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let start_clip = self.target_clip_or_root();
         let display_object = self.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, target, true)?;
         if let Some(display_object) = display_object {
             let lock_center = self.context.avm1.pop();
@@ -2389,7 +2389,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
             return Ok(None);
         }
 
-        let root = start.avm1_root(&self.context)?;
+        let root = start.avm1_root();
         let start = start.object().coerce_to_object(self);
         Ok(self
             .resolve_target_path(root, start, &path, false)?
@@ -2475,7 +2475,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
                 if first_element && name == b"this" {
                     self.this_cell()
                 } else if first_element && name == b"_root" {
-                    self.root_object()?
+                    self.root_object()
                 } else {
                     // Get the value from the object.
                     // Resolves display object instances first, then local variables.
@@ -2525,7 +2525,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
 
             let mut current_scope = Some(self.scope_cell());
             while let Some(scope) = current_scope {
-                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root(&self.context)?;
+                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root();
                 if let Some(object) =
                     self.resolve_target_path(avm1_root, *scope.read().locals(), path, true)?
                 {
@@ -2569,7 +2569,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
     /// scope chain.
     pub fn get_variable(&mut self, path: AvmString<'gc>) -> Result<CallableValue<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
         // Resolve a variable path for a GetVariable action.
-        let start = self.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let start = self.target_clip_or_root();
 
         // Find the right-most : or . in the path.
         // If we have one, we must resolve as a target path.
@@ -2580,7 +2580,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
 
             let mut current_scope = Some(self.scope_cell());
             while let Some(scope) = current_scope {
-                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root(&self.context)?;
+                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root();
                 if let Some(object) =
                     self.resolve_target_path(avm1_root, *scope.read().locals(), path, true)?
                 {
@@ -2599,7 +2599,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
         if path.contains(b'/') {
             let mut current_scope = Some(self.scope_cell());
             while let Some(scope) = current_scope {
-                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root(&self.context)?;
+                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root();
                 if let Some(object) =
                     self.resolve_target_path(avm1_root, *scope.read().locals(), &path, false)?
                 {
@@ -2642,7 +2642,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
         value: Value<'gc>,
     ) -> Result<(), Error<'gc>> {
         // Resolve a variable path for a GetVariable action.
-        let start = self.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let start = self.target_clip_or_root();
 
         // If the target clip is invalid, we default to root for the variable path.
         if path.is_empty() {
@@ -2660,7 +2660,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
 
             let mut current_scope = Some(self.scope_cell());
             while let Some(scope) = current_scope {
-                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root(&self.context)?;
+                let avm1_root = start.avm1_root();
                 if let Some(object) =
                     self.resolve_target_path(avm1_root, *scope.read().locals(), path, true)?
                 {
@@ -2709,17 +2709,14 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
     /// Actions that affect `root` after an invalid `tellTarget` will use this.
     ///
     /// The `root` is determined relative to the base clip that defined the
-    pub fn target_clip_or_root(&self) -> Result<DisplayObject<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
-        if let Some(target) = self.target_clip() {
-            return Ok(target);
-        }
-
-        self.base_clip().avm1_root(&self.context)
+    pub fn target_clip_or_root(&self) -> DisplayObject<'gc> {
+        self.target_clip()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| self.base_clip().avm1_root())
     }
 
     /// Obtain the value of `_root`.
-    pub fn root_object(&self) -> Result<Value<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
-        Ok(self.base_clip().avm1_root(&self.context)?.object())
+    pub fn root_object(&self) -> Value<'gc> {
+        self.base_clip().avm1_root().object()
     }
 
     /// Returns whether property keys should be case sensitive based on the current SWF version.
@@ -2887,7 +2884,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
     fn set_target(&mut self, target: &WStr) -> Result<FrameControl<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
         let base_clip = self.base_clip();
         let new_target_clip;
-        let root = base_clip.avm1_root(&self.context)?;
+        let root = base_clip.avm1_root();
         let start = base_clip.object().coerce_to_object(self);
         if target.is_empty() {
             new_target_clip = Some(base_clip);
@@ -2925,7 +2922,7 @@ impl<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> Activation<'a, 'gc, 'gc_context> {
         self.set_target_clip(new_target_clip);
 
         let scope = self.scope_cell();
-        let clip_obj = self.target_clip_or_root()?.object().coerce_to_object(self);
+        let clip_obj = self.target_clip_or_root().object().coerce_to_object(self);
 
         self.set_scope(Scope::new_target_scope(
             scope,
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/error.rs b/core/src/avm1/error.rs
index 82d7af076..a7f3fc03a 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/error.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/error.rs
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ pub enum Error<'gc> {
     #[error("Couldn't parse SWF")]
     InvalidSwf(#[from] swf::error::Error),
 
-    #[error("Attempted to interact with a rootless display object in AVM1. Such objects can only be created in AS3, this is a runtime bug in Ruffle.")]
-    InvalidDisplayObjectHierarchy,
-
     #[error("A script has thrown a custom error.")]
     ThrownValue(Value<'gc>),
 }
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/function.rs b/core/src/avm1/function.rs
index d273ea2db..b06fa3469 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/function.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/function.rs
@@ -350,10 +350,7 @@ impl<'gc> Executable<'gc> {
                 }
 
                 if af.flags.contains(FunctionFlags::PRELOAD_ROOT) {
-                    frame.set_local_register(
-                        preload_r,
-                        af.base_clip.avm1_root(&frame.context)?.object(),
-                    );
+                    frame.set_local_register(preload_r, af.base_clip.avm1_root().object());
                     preload_r += 1;
                 }
 
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/globals/bitmap_data.rs b/core/src/avm1/globals/bitmap_data.rs
index 95f75c7ee..198bdd157 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/globals/bitmap_data.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/globals/bitmap_data.rs
@@ -1149,7 +1149,7 @@ pub fn load_bitmap<'gc>(
 
     let library = &*activation.context.library;
 
-    let movie = activation.target_clip_or_root()?.movie();
+    let movie = activation.target_clip_or_root().movie();
 
     let renderer = &mut activation.context.renderer;
 
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/globals/color.rs b/core/src/avm1/globals/color.rs
index 188254e64..28335a569 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/globals/color.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/globals/color.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ fn target<'gc>(
     let target = this.get("target", activation)?;
     // Undefined or empty target is no-op.
     if target != Value::Undefined {
-        let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root();
         activation.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, target, false)
     } else {
         Ok(None)
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/globals/display_object.rs b/core/src/avm1/globals/display_object.rs
index f5cc5df7f..dfa23b70c 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/globals/display_object.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/globals/display_object.rs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ pub fn get_root<'gc>(
     _this: Object<'gc>,
     _args: &[Value<'gc>],
 ) -> Result<Value<'gc>, Error<'gc>> {
-    activation.root_object()
+    Ok(activation.root_object())
 }
 
 pub fn get_parent<'gc>(
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip.rs b/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip.rs
index 27bb4e1f6..e25e34ac4 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip.rs
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ pub fn hit_test<'gc>(
             // The docs say the point is in "Stage coordinates", but actually they are in root coordinates.
             // root can be moved via _root._x etc., so we actually have to transform from root to world space.
             let point = movie_clip
-                .avm1_root(&activation.context)?
+                .avm1_root()
                 .local_to_global((Twips::from_pixels(x), Twips::from_pixels(y)));
             let ret = if shape {
                 movie_clip.hit_test_shape(
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip_loader.rs b/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip_loader.rs
index 4b37c7c08..6513a4aa1 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip_loader.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/globals/movie_clip_loader.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ fn load_clip<'gc>(
         if let Value::String(url) = url {
             let target = match target {
                 Value::String(_) => {
-                    let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root()?;
+                    let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root();
                     activation.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, *target, true)?
                 }
                 Value::Number(level_id) => {
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ fn unload_clip<'gc>(
     if let [target, ..] = args {
         let target = match target {
             Value::String(_) => {
-                let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root()?;
+                let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root();
                 activation.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, *target, true)?
             }
             Value::Number(level_id) => {
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ fn get_progress<'gc>(
     if let [target, ..] = args {
         let target = match target {
             Value::String(_) => {
-                let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root()?;
+                let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root();
                 activation.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, *target, true)?
             }
             Value::Number(level_id) => {
diff --git a/core/src/avm1/globals/sound.rs b/core/src/avm1/globals/sound.rs
index d76afa58c..c62ee7521 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/globals/sound.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/globals/sound.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ pub fn constructor<'gc>(
     // 1st parameter is the movie clip that "owns" all sounds started by this object.
     // `Sound.setTransform`, `Sound.stop`, etc. will affect all sounds owned by this clip.
     let owner = if let Some(owner) = args.get(0) {
-        let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root()?;
+        let start_clip = activation.target_clip_or_root();
         activation.resolve_target_display_object(start_clip, *owner, false)?
     } else {
         None
diff --git a/core/src/display_object.rs b/core/src/display_object.rs
index e42bca187..a78bc5939 100644
--- a/core/src/display_object.rs
+++ b/core/src/display_object.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-use crate::avm1::{
-    Error as Avm1Error, Object as Avm1Object, TObject as Avm1TObject, Value as Avm1Value,
-};
+use crate::avm1::{Object as Avm1Object, TObject as Avm1TObject, Value as Avm1Value};
 use crate::avm2::{
     Activation as Avm2Activation, Avm2, Error as Avm2Error, Event as Avm2Event,
     EventData as Avm2EventData, Namespace as Avm2Namespace, Object as Avm2Object,
@@ -1314,55 +1312,22 @@ pub trait TDisplayObject<'gc>:
         true
     }
 
-    /// Obtain the top-most non-Stage parent of the display tree hierarchy, if
-    /// a suitable object exists. If none such object exists, this function
-    /// yields an AVM1 error (which shouldn't happen in normal usage).
+    /// Obtain the top-most non-Stage parent of the display tree hierarchy.
     ///
     /// This function implements the AVM1 concept of root clips. For the AVM2
     /// version, see `avm2_root`.
-    fn avm1_root(
-        &self,
-        context: &UpdateContext<'_, 'gc, '_>,
-    ) -> Result<DisplayObject<'gc>, Avm1Error<'gc>> {
-        let mut parent = if self.lock_root() {
-            None
-        } else {
-            self.avm1_parent()
-        };
-
-        while let Some(p) = parent {
-            if p.lock_root() {
+    fn avm1_root(&self) -> DisplayObject<'gc> {
+        let mut root = (*self).into();
+        loop {
+            if root.lock_root() {
                 break;
             }
-
-            let grandparent = p.avm1_parent();
-
-            if grandparent.is_none() {
-                break;
-            }
-
-            parent = grandparent;
+            root = match root.avm1_parent() {
+                Some(parent) => parent,
+                None => break,
+            };
         }
-
-        parent
-            .ok_or(Avm1Error::InvalidDisplayObjectHierarchy)
-            .or_else(|_| {
-                if let Avm1Value::Object(object) = self.object() {
-                    object
-                        .as_display_object()
-                        .ok_or(Avm1Error::InvalidDisplayObjectHierarchy)
-                } else if let Avm2Value::Object(object) = self.object2() {
-                    if self.is_on_stage(context) {
-                        object
-                            .as_display_object()
-                            .ok_or(Avm1Error::InvalidDisplayObjectHierarchy)
-                    } else {
-                        Err(Avm1Error::InvalidDisplayObjectHierarchy)
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    Err(Avm1Error::InvalidDisplayObjectHierarchy)
-                }
-            })
+        root
     }
 
     /// Obtain the top-most non-Stage parent of the display tree hierarchy, if