diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py
index d66c69daaa7..5d97311c01d 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_partner.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ class res_partner(osv.osv, format_address):
         'name': fields.char('Name', size=128, required=True, select=True),
         'date': fields.date('Date', select=1),
         'title': fields.many2one('res.partner.title', 'Title'),
-        'parent_id': fields.many2one('res.partner', 'Related Company'),
+        'parent_id': fields.many2one('res.partner', 'Related Company', select=True),
         'child_ids': fields.one2many('res.partner', 'parent_id', 'Contacts', domain=[('active','=',True)]), # force "active_test" domain to bypass _search() override    
         'ref': fields.char('Reference', size=64, select=1),
         'lang': fields.selection(_lang_get, 'Language',