diff --git a/crates/bevy_core/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_core/src/lib.rs
index 59993d1ca9..0d4c48154b 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_core/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ pub mod float_ord;
 pub mod time;
 pub mod transform;
 
-use bevy_app::{stage, AppBuilder, AppPlugin};
+use bevy_app::{stage, startup_stage, AppBuilder, AppPlugin};
 use bevy_transform::{
     components::{
         Children, LocalTransform, NonUniformScale, Rotation, Scale, Transform, Translation,
@@ -20,8 +20,12 @@ pub struct CorePlugin;
 
 impl AppPlugin for CorePlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut AppBuilder) {
+        // we also add a copy of transform systems to startup to ensure we begin with correct transform/parent state
         for transform_system in transform_system_bundle::build(app.world_mut()).drain(..) {
-            app.add_system(transform_system);
+            app.add_startup_system_to_stage(startup_stage::POST_STARTUP, transform_system);
+        }
+        for transform_system in transform_system_bundle::build(app.world_mut()).drain(..) {
+            app.add_system_to_stage(stage::POST_UPDATE, transform_system);
         }
 
         app.init_resource::<Time>()