diff --git a/changes/239.misc.rst b/changes/239.misc.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..804c503
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/239.misc.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+The order in which attributes are primed in ``Node.__init__`` has been altered, so that ``.parent`` is available when a style is applied.
diff --git a/src/travertino/node.py b/src/travertino/node.py
index b0d50d5..1510bc7 100644
--- a/src/travertino/node.py
+++ b/src/travertino/node.py
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 class Node:
     def __init__(self, style, applicator=None, children=None):
+        # Parent needs to be primed before style is (potentially) applied with
+        # assignment of applicator.
+        self._parent = None
+        self._root = None
+
         # Explicitly set the internal attribute first, since the setter for style will
         # access the applicator property.
         self._applicator = None
@@ -7,8 +12,6 @@ def __init__(self, style, applicator=None, children=None):
         self.style = style
         self.applicator = applicator
 
-        self._parent = None
-        self._root = None
         if children is None:
             self._children = None
         else: