diff --git a/core/circuit/circuit.go b/core/circuit/circuit.go
index 6a06d69a4..85ebea6ec 100644
--- a/core/circuit/circuit.go
+++ b/core/circuit/circuit.go
@@ -148,6 +148,12 @@ func (c *Circuit) GetParent() api.Circuit {
 
 // setParent set parent circuit
 func (c *Circuit) setParent(parent api.Circuit) error {
+	// prevent cyclical dependency
+	for p := parent.GetParent(); p != nil; p = p.GetParent() {
+		if c == p {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cycle detected: %s and %s cannot be mutual parents", c.GetTitle(), parent.GetTitle())
+		}
+	}
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	defer c.mu.Unlock()
 	if c.parent != nil {
diff --git a/core/circuit/circuit_test.go b/core/circuit/circuit_test.go
index 172ad176d..d48765bab 100644
--- a/core/circuit/circuit_test.go
+++ b/core/circuit/circuit_test.go
@@ -139,3 +139,13 @@ func TestCircuitCurrents(t *testing.T) {
 		ctrl.Finish()
 	}
 }
+
+func TestWrapCycleDetection(t *testing.T) {
+	log := util.NewLogger("foo")
+
+	pc, _ := New(log, "root", 0, 0, nil, 0)
+	lpc, _ := New(log, "lpc", 0, 0, nil, 0)
+
+	require.NoError(t, lpc.setParent(pc))
+	require.Error(t, pc.Wrap(lpc))
+}