diff --git a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/ContainerDiscovery.java b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/ContainerDiscovery.java
index 1c5b417f6..14a187798 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/ContainerDiscovery.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/ContainerDiscovery.java
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ void onStart(@Observes StartupEvent evt) {
             universe.persist();
         }
 
-        logger.info(String.format("Starting %s client", getRealm()));
+        logger.infov("Starting {0} client", getRealm());
 
         queryContainers();
         this.timerId = vertx.setPeriodic(pollPeriod.toMillis(), unused -> queryContainers());
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ void onStop(@Observes ShutdownEvent evt) {
         if (!enabled()) {
             return;
         }
-        logger.info(String.format("Shutting down %s client", getRealm()));
+        logger.infov("Shutting down {0} client", getRealm());
         vertx.cancelTimer(timerId);
     }
 
@@ -399,6 +399,7 @@ public void handleContainerEvent(ContainerSpec desc, EventKind evtKind) {
             } else {
                 realm.children.remove(t.discoveryNode);
             }
+            t.discoveryNode.parent = null;
             realm.persist();
             t.delete();
         }
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/CustomDiscovery.java b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/CustomDiscovery.java
index e626c2996..c7cc141f5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/CustomDiscovery.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/CustomDiscovery.java
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ public Response delete(@RestPath long id) throws URISyntaxException {
         Target target = Target.find("id", id).singleResult();
         DiscoveryNode realm = DiscoveryNode.getRealm(REALM).orElseThrow();
         realm.children.remove(target.discoveryNode);
+        target.discoveryNode = null;
         realm.persist();
         target.delete();
         return Response.noContent().build();
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/JDPDiscovery.java b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/JDPDiscovery.java
index 45edbe89e..4f057d959 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/JDPDiscovery.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/JDPDiscovery.java
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ public synchronized void handleJdpEvent(JvmDiscoveryEvent evt) {
             case LOST:
                 Target t = Target.getTargetByConnectUrl(connectUrl);
                 realm.children.remove(t.discoveryNode);
+                t.discoveryNode.parent = null;
                 realm.persist();
                 t.delete();
                 break;
diff --git a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/KubeApiDiscovery.java b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/KubeApiDiscovery.java
index 2941bbbbf..318a9b1cc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/KubeApiDiscovery.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/cryostat/discovery/KubeApiDiscovery.java
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@ public void handleEndpointEvent(String namespace) {
 
             if (!nsNode.hasChildren()) {
                 realm.children.remove(nsNode);
+                nsNode.parent = null;
             } else if (!realm.children.contains(nsNode)) {
                 realm.children.add(nsNode);
                 nsNode.parent = realm;
@@ -275,6 +276,7 @@ private void pruneOwnerChain(DiscoveryNode nsNode, Target target) {
             }
 
             parent.children.remove(child);
+            child.parent = null;
             parent.persist();
 
             if (parent.hasChildren()