diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index d5a67dd83..bd07b6113 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 ## Bug fixes
 
 * avoid posting empty comments. [#3836](https://github.com/diaspora/diaspora/issues/3836)
+* Delegate parent_author to the target of a RelayableRetraction
 
 ## Refactor
 
diff --git a/app/models/relayable_retraction.rb b/app/models/relayable_retraction.rb
index a055b5eb9..4dacde55c 100644
--- a/app/models/relayable_retraction.rb
+++ b/app/models/relayable_retraction.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ class RelayableRetraction < SignedRetraction
 
   attr_accessor :parent_author_signature
 
+  delegate :parent, :parent_author, to: :target, allow_nil: true
+
   def signable_accessors
     super - ['parent_author_signature']
   end
@@ -20,11 +22,6 @@ class RelayableRetraction < SignedRetraction
     retraction
   end
 
-  def parent
-    return nil unless self.target.present?
-    self.target.parent
-  end
-
   def diaspora_handle
     self.sender_handle
   end
diff --git a/spec/models/relayable_retraction_spec.rb b/spec/models/relayable_retraction_spec.rb
index cee206266..d76fa60a4 100644
--- a/spec/models/relayable_retraction_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/relayable_retraction_spec.rb
@@ -12,16 +12,32 @@ describe RelayableRetraction do
     @local_parent = @local_luke.post :status_message, :text => "hi", :to => @local_luke.aspects.first
   end
 
-  describe '#subscribers' do
+  context "when retracting a comment" do
     before do
       @comment= @local_luke.comment!(@local_parent, "yo")
       @retraction= @local_luke.retract(@comment)
     end
 
-    it 'delegates it to target' do
-      arg = mock()
-      @retraction.target.should_receive(:subscribers).with(arg)
-      @retraction.subscribers(arg)
+    describe "#parent" do
+      it "delegates to to target" do
+        @retraction.target.should_receive(:parent)
+        @retraction.parent
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe "#parent_author" do
+      it "delegates to target" do
+        @retraction.target.should_receive(:parent_author)
+        @retraction.parent_author
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe '#subscribers' do
+      it 'delegates it to target' do
+        arg = mock()
+        @retraction.target.should_receive(:subscribers).with(arg)
+        @retraction.subscribers(arg)
+      end
     end
   end