diff --git a/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp b/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp
index 7c32045..de6431f 100644
--- a/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp
+++ b/src/libraries/turtle/function.hpp
@@ -127,7 +127,8 @@ namespace mock
             }
             virtual ~function_impl()
             {
-                parent_->remove( *this );
+                if( parent_ )
+                    parent_->remove( *this );
                 if( ! std::uncaught_exception() )
                     for( expectations_cit it = expectations_.begin();
                         it != expectations_.end(); ++it )
@@ -146,7 +147,8 @@ namespace mock
             }
             void set_parent( node& parent )
             {
-                parent_->remove( *this );
+                if( parent_ )
+                    parent_->remove( *this );
                 parent.add( *this );
                 parent_ = &parent;
             }
@@ -168,6 +170,10 @@ namespace mock
                 valid_ = true;
                 expectations_.clear();
             }
+            virtual void untie()
+            {
+                parent_ = 0;
+            }
 
             expectation_type& expect( const std::string& file, int line )
             {
@@ -285,7 +291,9 @@ namespace mock
             void serialize( std::ostream& s,
                 const std::string& parameters ) const
             {
-                s << parent_->tag() << name_ << parameters;
+                if( parent_ )
+                    s << parent_->tag();
+                s << name_ << parameters;
                 for( expectations_cit it = expectations_.begin();
                     it != expectations_.end(); ++it )
                     s << std::endl << *it;
diff --git a/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp b/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp
index 1c55ab7..593bfbe 100644
--- a/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp
+++ b/src/libraries/turtle/node.hpp
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ namespace mock
             std::for_each( v_.begin(), v_.end(),
                 std::mem_fun( &verifiable::reset ) );
         }
+        virtual void untie()
+        {}
 
         void tag( const std::string& name )
         {
@@ -54,7 +56,10 @@ namespace mock
 
     protected:
         virtual ~node()
-        {}
+        {
+            std::for_each( v_.begin(), v_.end(),
+                std::mem_fun( &verifiable::untie ) );
+        }
 
     private:
         typedef std::vector< verifiable* > verifiables_type;
diff --git a/src/libraries/turtle/verifiable.hpp b/src/libraries/turtle/verifiable.hpp
index 7069b5d..2bcdc8d 100644
--- a/src/libraries/turtle/verifiable.hpp
+++ b/src/libraries/turtle/verifiable.hpp
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ namespace mock
         verifiable() {}
         virtual ~verifiable() {}
 
-        // return false if verification fails
         virtual bool verify() const = 0;
 
-        // return to the initial state
         virtual void reset() = 0;
+
+        virtual void untie() = 0;
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/tests/turtle_test/function_test.cpp b/src/tests/turtle_test/function_test.cpp
index f76488b..636d6e1 100644
--- a/src/tests/turtle_test/function_test.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/turtle_test/function_test.cpp
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ namespace
     };
 }
 
+// static
+
+namespace
+{
+    boost::function< void() > static_f;
+}
+
 // functor
 
 BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE( a_function_can_be_passed_as_functor, error_fixture )
diff --git a/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp b/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp
index 5acda91..0d4fcc2 100644
--- a/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/turtle_test/object_test.cpp
@@ -81,3 +81,13 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( an_object_is_copiable_by_sharing_its_state )
     o2.reset();
     BOOST_CHECK( ! o1.verify() );
 }
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE( an_object_can_be_destroyed_before_its_children_functions )
+{
+    mock::function< void() > f;
+    {
+        mock::object o;
+        o.set_child( f );
+    }
+    f.test();
+}