diff --git a/spec/booking_spec.cr b/spec/booking_spec.cr
index 4a9195cb..13bdec68 100644
--- a/spec/booking_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/booking_spec.cr
@@ -679,6 +679,28 @@ module PlaceOS::Model
     child_booking_json["linked_parent_booking"].as_h.should_not be_nil
     child_booking_json["linked_parent_booking"].as_h["id"].should eq(parent_booking.id)
   end
+  it "hydrate_parents returns bookings that have no parent unchanged" do
+    tenant_id = Generator.tenant.id.not_nil!
+    user_email = "one@place.tech"
+    booking = Booking.new(
+      booking_type: "asset-request",
+      asset_ids: ["laptop-1"],
+      booking_start: 1.hour.from_now.to_unix,
+      booking_end: 2.hours.from_now.to_unix,
+      user_email: PlaceOS::Model::Email.new(user_email),
+      user_name: "One",
+      booked_by_email: PlaceOS::Model::Email.new(user_email),
+      booked_by_name: "One",
+      tenant_id: tenant_id,
+      booked_by_id: "user-1",
+      history: [] of Booking::History,
+    ).save!
+
+    hydrated = Booking.hydrate_parents([Booking.find(booking.id)])
+    hydrated.map(&.id).should eq([booking.id])
+    JSON.parse(hydrated[0].to_json).as_h["linked_parent_booking"]?.try(&.raw).should be_nil
+  end
+
   it "excludes deleted recurring instances from expand_bookings" do
     tenant_id = Generator.tenant.id.not_nil!
     user_email = "steve@place.tech"
diff --git a/src/placeos-models/booking.cr b/src/placeos-models/booking.cr
index e26fdff0..d8aae01e 100644
--- a/src/placeos-models/booking.cr
+++ b/src/placeos-models/booking.cr
@@ -809,6 +809,8 @@ module PlaceOS::Model
 
     def self.hydrate_parents(bookings : Array(Booking))
       parent_ids = bookings.compact_map(&.parent_id).uniq!
+      # an empty list renders as `IN ()`, which Postgres rejects
+      return bookings if parent_ids.empty?
       parents = Booking.where(id: parent_ids).to_a
       parents_by_id = parents.index_by(&.id)
       bookings.each do |booking|