diff --git a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/languages/CppCompiler.scala b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/languages/CppCompiler.scala
index ad459a0a8..05ef8e7c3 100644
--- a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/languages/CppCompiler.scala
+++ b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/languages/CppCompiler.scala
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class CppCompiler(
 
     handleAssignmentSimple(ParentIdentifier, pParent)
     handleAssignmentSimple(RootIdentifier, if (name == rootClassName) {
-      "this"
+      s"${pRoot} ? ${pRoot} : this"
     } else {
       pRoot
     })