diff --git a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/Main.scala b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/Main.scala
index 0ab95da3b..7ac34ef6e 100644
--- a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/Main.scala
+++ b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/Main.scala
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package io.kaitai.struct
 
-import io.kaitai.struct.format.{ClassSpec, ClassSpecs, GenericStructClassSpec, MetaSpec}
+import io.kaitai.struct.format.{ClassSpec, ClassSpecs, MetaSpec}
 import io.kaitai.struct.languages.{GoCompiler, NimCompiler, RustCompiler}
 import io.kaitai.struct.languages.components.LanguageCompilerStatic
 import io.kaitai.struct.precompile._
@@ -60,10 +60,6 @@ object Main {
     val styleWarnings = new StyleCheckIds(specs).run()
     val encodingProblems = new CanonicalizeEncodingNames(specs).run()
 
-    specs.forEachTopLevel((_, spec) => {
-      spec.parentClass = GenericStructClassSpec
-    })
-
     resolveTypeProblems ++ typeValidatorProblems ++ styleWarnings ++ encodingProblems
   }
 
diff --git a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/datatype/DataType.scala b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/datatype/DataType.scala
index 1bcc45ae5..546c0afbe 100644
--- a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/datatype/DataType.scala
+++ b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/datatype/DataType.scala
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ object DataType {
     override def isOwning: Boolean = false
   }
 
+  /** Represents `_parent: false` expression which means that type explicitly has no parent. */
   val USER_TYPE_NO_PARENT = Ast.expr.Bool(false)
 
   case object AnyType extends DataType
diff --git a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/format/ClassSpec.scala b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/format/ClassSpec.scala
index 644b53971..6a3cb0135 100644
--- a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/format/ClassSpec.scala
+++ b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/format/ClassSpec.scala
@@ -15,9 +15,20 @@ import scala.collection.mutable
 sealed trait ClassSpecLike {
   def toDataType: DataType
 }
+/**
+  * Type was not yet calculated. If that type returned during calculation, then
+  * cyclic reference is present and it is impossible to calculate actual type.
+  *
+  * Parent type of each KSY-defined type initialized to that value and refined
+  * later based on type usage.
+  */
 case object UnknownClassSpec extends ClassSpecLike {
   override def toDataType: DataType = CalcKaitaiStructType()
 }
+/**
+  * Type is calculated as a type that able to store any KSY-defined type.
+  * Usually it have a name `KaitaiStruct` in corresponding language runtime library.
+  */
 case object GenericStructClassSpec extends ClassSpecLike {
   override def toDataType: DataType = CalcKaitaiStructType()
 }
diff --git a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/precompile/ParentTypes.scala b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/precompile/ParentTypes.scala
index a3e0a40b5..2929f4e5f 100644
--- a/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/precompile/ParentTypes.scala
+++ b/shared/src/main/scala/io/kaitai/struct/precompile/ParentTypes.scala
@@ -6,13 +6,20 @@ import io.kaitai.struct.datatype.DataType.{ArrayTypeInStream, SwitchType, UserTy
 import io.kaitai.struct.format._
 import io.kaitai.struct.translators.TypeDetector
 
+/**
+  * Precompile step that calculates actual parent types of KSY-defined types
+  * (the type of the `_parent` built-in property).
+  */
 class ParentTypes(classSpecs: ClassSpecs) {
   def run(): Unit = {
     classSpecs.foreach { case (_, curClass) => markup(curClass) }
+    classSpecs.forEachTopLevel((_, spec) => {
+      spec.parentClass = GenericStructClassSpec
+    })
   }
 
   def markup(curClass: ClassSpec): Unit = {
-    Log.typeProcParent.info(() => s"markupParentTypes(${curClass.nameAsStr})")
+    Log.typeProcParent.info(() => s"ParentTypes.markup(${curClass.nameAsStr})")
 
     if (curClass.seq.nonEmpty)
       Log.typeProcParent.info(() => s"... seq")
@@ -30,18 +37,30 @@ class ParentTypes(classSpecs: ClassSpecs) {
           // value instances have no effect on parenting, just do nothing
       }
     }
+
+    if (curClass.types.nonEmpty)
+      Log.typeProcParent.info(() => s"... types")
+    curClass.types.foreach { case (_, ty) =>
+      // If parent is not decided yet, calculate it
+      if (ty.parentClass == UnknownClassSpec) {
+        markup(ty)
+      }
+    }
   }
 
+  /** Calculates `parent` of `dt` */
   private
   def markupParentTypesAdd(curClass: ClassSpec, dt: DataType): Unit = {
     dt match {
       case userType: UserType =>
-        (userType.forcedParent match {
+        userType.forcedParent match {
+          // `parent` key is not specified in attribute
           case None =>
-            Some(curClass)
+            markupParentAs(curClass, userType)
+          // `parent: false` specified in attribute
           case Some(DataType.USER_TYPE_NO_PARENT) =>
             Log.typeProcParent.info(() => s"..... no parent type added")
-            None
+          // `parent: <expression>` specified in attribute
           case Some(parent) =>
             val provider = new ClassTypeProvider(classSpecs, curClass)
             val detector = new TypeDetector(provider)
@@ -49,11 +68,11 @@ class ParentTypes(classSpecs: ClassSpecs) {
             Log.typeProcParent.info(() => s"..... enforced parent type = $parentType")
             parentType match {
               case ut: UserType =>
-                Some(ut.classSpec.get)
+                markupParentAs(ut.classSpec.get, userType)
               case other =>
                 throw new TypeMismatchError(s"parent=$parent is expected to be either of user type or `false`, but $other found")
             }
-        }).foreach((parentClass) => markupParentAs(parentClass, userType))
+        }
       case switchType: SwitchType =>
         switchType.cases.foreach {
           case (_, ut: UserType) =>
@@ -77,6 +96,11 @@ class ParentTypes(classSpecs: ClassSpecs) {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+    * If parent of `child` is not calculated yet, makes `parent` the parent
+    * type. Otherwise, if `parent` is different from existing parent, replaces
+    * parent type with the most generic KS type for user types.
+    */
   def markupParentAs(parent: ClassSpec, child: ClassSpec): Unit = {
     // Don't allow type usages across spec boundaries to affect parent resolution
     if (child.isExternal(parent)) {