diff --git a/lib/tasks/task.js b/lib/tasks/task.js
index 7a99493d..6c2434f9 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/task.js
+++ b/lib/tasks/task.js
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ class Task extends Emitter {
   kill(cs) {
     if (this.cs && !this.cs.isConfirmCallSession) this.logger.debug(`${this.name} is being killed`);
     this._killInProgress = true;
-    // no-op
+
+    /* remove reference to parent task or else entangled parent-child tasks will not be gc'ed */
+    setImmediate(() => this.parentTask = null);
   }
 
   /**