diff --git a/core/src/avm1/globals/xml.rs b/core/src/avm1/globals/xml.rs
index 8dcf97517..7df2a4944 100644
--- a/core/src/avm1/globals/xml.rs
+++ b/core/src/avm1/globals/xml.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ pub fn xmlnode_append_child<'gc>(
         args.get(0)
             .and_then(|n| n.coerce_to_object(activation).as_xml_node()),
     ) {
-        if let Ok(None) = child_xmlnode.parent() {
+        if !xmlnode.has_child(child_xmlnode) {
             let position = xmlnode.children_len();
             if let Err(e) =
                 xmlnode.insert_child(activation.context.gc_context, position, child_xmlnode)
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ pub fn xmlnode_insert_before<'gc>(
         args.get(1)
             .and_then(|n| n.coerce_to_object(activation).as_xml_node()),
     ) {
-        if let Ok(None) = child_xmlnode.parent() {
+        if !xmlnode.has_child(child_xmlnode) {
             if let Some(position) = xmlnode.child_position(insertpoint_xmlnode) {
                 if let Err(e) =
                     xmlnode.insert_child(activation.context.gc_context, position, child_xmlnode)
diff --git a/core/src/xml/tree.rs b/core/src/xml/tree.rs
index b1338ca0d..b220b0bc1 100644
--- a/core/src/xml/tree.rs
+++ b/core/src/xml/tree.rs
@@ -665,6 +665,12 @@ impl<'gc> XmlNode<'gc> {
             return Err(Error::CannotInsertIntoSelf);
         }
 
+        if let Some(mut it) = self.ancestors() {
+            if it.find(|ancestor| GcCell::ptr_eq(ancestor.0, child.0)).is_some() {
+                return Err(Error::CannotInsertIntoSelf);
+            }
+        }
+
         match &mut *self.0.write(mc) {
             XmlNodeData::Element {
                 ref mut children, ..
@@ -779,6 +785,15 @@ impl<'gc> XmlNode<'gc> {
         None
     }
 
+    /// Checks if `child` is a direct descendant of `self`.
+    pub fn has_child(self, child: XmlNode<'gc>) -> bool {
+        child
+            .parent()
+            .unwrap_or(None)
+            .filter(|p| GcCell::ptr_eq(self.0, p.0))
+            .is_some()
+    }
+
     /// Retrieve a given child by index (e.g. position in the document).
     pub fn get_child_by_index(self, index: usize) -> Option<XmlNode<'gc>> {
         match &*self.0.read() {
diff --git a/core/tests/regression_tests.rs b/core/tests/regression_tests.rs
index 6afeed601..51f795013 100644
--- a/core/tests/regression_tests.rs
+++ b/core/tests/regression_tests.rs
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ swf_tests! {
     (xml_append_child, "avm1/xml_append_child", 1),
     (xml_append_child_with_parent, "avm1/xml_append_child_with_parent", 1),
     (xml_remove_node, "avm1/xml_remove_node", 1),
+    (xml_reparenting, "avm1/xml_reparenting", 1),
     (xml_insert_before, "avm1/xml_insert_before", 1),
     (xml_to_string, "avm1/xml_to_string", 1),
     (xml_to_string_comment, "avm1/xml_to_string_comment", 1),
diff --git a/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/Test.as b/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/Test.as
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be6ddbf5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/Test.as
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Compile with:
+//  mtasc -main -header 200:150:30 Test.as -swf test.swf 
+class Test {
+    static function main(current) {
+        trace("// reparenting in self");
+        var xml = new XML("<a><b/></a><c/>");
+        trace(xml);
+        xml.appendChild(xml.firstChild.firstChild);
+        trace("// after");
+        trace(xml);
+
+        trace("// reparenting in other");
+        xml = new XML("<a><b/></a>");
+        var other = new XML("<c/>");
+        trace(xml);
+        trace(other);
+        other.insertBefore(xml.firstChild.firstChild, other.firstChild);
+        trace("// after");
+        trace(xml);
+        trace(other);
+
+        trace("// can't reparent in descendent");
+        xml = new XML("<a><b/></a>");
+        trace(xml);
+        xml.firstChild.firstChild.appendChild(xml.firstChild);
+        trace("// after");
+        trace(xml);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/output.txt b/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/output.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4dc482b6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/output.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// reparenting in self
+<a><b /></a><c />
+// after
+<a /><c /><b />
+// reparenting in other
+<a><b /></a>
+<c />
+// after
+<a />
+<b /><c />
+// can't reparent in descendent
+<a><b /></a>
+// after
+<a><b /></a>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/test.swf b/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/test.swf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b66d20058
Binary files /dev/null and b/core/tests/swfs/avm1/xml_reparenting/test.swf differ