diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Controls/Generators/TabItemContainerGenerator.cs b/src/Avalonia.Controls/Generators/TabItemContainerGenerator.cs
index a6a64e570b..1c5419735b 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Controls/Generators/TabItemContainerGenerator.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Controls/Generators/TabItemContainerGenerator.cs
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ namespace Avalonia.Controls.Generators
         {
             var tabItem = (TabItem)base.CreateContainer(item);
 
-            tabItem.ParentTabControl = Owner;
-
             tabItem[~TabControl.TabStripPlacementProperty] = Owner[~TabControl.TabStripPlacementProperty];
 
             if (tabItem.HeaderTemplate == null)
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Controls/TabItem.cs b/src/Avalonia.Controls/TabItem.cs
index 0160bfcec1..e27977bf3d 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Controls/TabItem.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Controls/TabItem.cs
@@ -53,8 +53,6 @@ namespace Avalonia.Controls
             set { SetValue(IsSelectedProperty, value); }
         }
 
-        internal TabControl ParentTabControl { get; set; }
-
         private void UpdateHeader(AvaloniaPropertyChangedEventArgs obj)
         {
             if (Header == null)