diff --git a/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp b/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp
index c2177e0..e61c3b6 100644
--- a/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp
+++ b/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp
@@ -120,11 +120,9 @@ namespace mock
         public:
             function_impl()
                 : name_( "?" )
-                , parent_( &root() )
+                , parent_( 0 )
                 , valid_( true )
-            {
-                parent_->add( *this );
-            }
+            {}
             virtual ~function_impl()
             {
                 if( parent_ )
@@ -177,13 +175,14 @@ namespace mock
 
             expectation_type& expect( const std::string& file, int line )
             {
-                expectations_.push_back( expectation_type() );
-                expectations_.back().set_location( file, line );
-                valid_ = true;
-                return expectations_.back();
+                expectation_type& e = expect();
+                e.set_location( file, line );
+                return e;
             }
             expectation_type& expect()
             {
+                if( ! parent_ )
+                    set_parent( root );
                 expectations_.push_back( expectation_type() );
                 valid_ = true;
                 return expectations_.back();
diff --git a/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp b/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp
index cdc099b..15c0e4b 100644
--- a/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp
+++ b/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp
@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@ namespace mock
                 std::mem_fun( &verifiable::reset ) );
         }
 
-    protected:
-        virtual void untie()
-        {}
-
     private:
         typedef std::vector< verifiable* > verifiables_type;
         typedef verifiables_type::const_iterator verifiables_cit;
diff --git a/src/libraries/turtle/object.hpp b/src/libraries/turtle/object.hpp
index 872890f..37294d8 100644
--- a/src/libraries/turtle/object.hpp
+++ b/src/libraries/turtle/object.hpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace mock
         template< typename T >
         void set_child( T& t ) const
         {
-            t.set_parent( *impl_ );
+            impl_->set_child( t );
         }
         void tag( const std::string& name ) const
         {
@@ -48,13 +48,32 @@ namespace mock
         {
         public:
             object_impl()
-            {
-                root().add( *this );
-            }
+                : parent_( 0 )
+            {}
             virtual ~object_impl()
             {
-                root().remove( *this );
+                if( parent_ )
+                    parent_->remove( *this );
             }
+            template< typename T >
+            void set_child( T& t )
+            {
+                if( ! parent_ )
+                {
+                    root.add( *this );
+                    parent_ = &root;
+                }
+                t.set_parent( *this );
+            }
+
+        protected:
+            virtual void untie()
+            {
+                parent_ = 0;
+            }
+
+        private:
+            node* parent_;
         };
 
         boost::shared_ptr< object_impl > impl_;
diff --git a/src/libraries/turtle/root.hpp b/src/libraries/turtle/root.hpp
index ba692d2..05fc277 100644
--- a/src/libraries/turtle/root.hpp
+++ b/src/libraries/turtle/root.hpp
@@ -11,22 +11,27 @@
 
 #include "config.hpp"
 #include "node.hpp"
+#include <boost/test/utils/trivial_singleton.hpp>
 
 namespace mock
 {
-    inline node& root()
+    class root_t : public boost::unit_test::singleton< root_t >, public node
     {
-        static node r;
-        return r;
-    }
+    protected:
+        virtual void untie()
+        {}
+    private:
+        BOOST_TEST_SINGLETON_CONS( root_t );
+    };
+    BOOST_TEST_SINGLETON_INST( root )
 
     inline bool verify()
     {
-        return root().verify();
+        return root.verify();
     }
     inline void reset()
     {
-        root().reset();
+        root.reset();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp b/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp
index 0d4fcc2..2d4daae 100644
--- a/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@
 #include <turtle/object.hpp>
 #include <turtle/function.hpp>
 
+namespace
+{
+    mock::object static_o;
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( verifying_an_empty_object_succeeds )
 {
     mock::object o;