diff --git a/scene/3d/skeleton_3d.cpp b/scene/3d/skeleton_3d.cpp
index 0f5de621eaeb..b7a79a264597 100644
--- a/scene/3d/skeleton_3d.cpp
+++ b/scene/3d/skeleton_3d.cpp
@@ -520,6 +520,7 @@ void Skeleton3D::set_bone_parent(int p_bone, int p_parent) {
 	const int bone_size = bones.size();
 	ERR_FAIL_INDEX(p_bone, bone_size);
 	ERR_FAIL_COND(p_parent != -1 && (p_parent < 0));
+	ERR_FAIL_COND(p_bone == p_parent);
 
 	bones.write[p_bone].parent = p_parent;
 	process_order_dirty = true;