diff --git a/lib/jsdoc/src/parser.js b/lib/jsdoc/src/parser.js
index 08c958e7..24bafb7f 100644
--- a/lib/jsdoc/src/parser.js
+++ b/lib/jsdoc/src/parser.js
@@ -444,28 +444,28 @@ Parser.prototype.resolveThis = function(node) {
  * an empty array if no doclets are found.
  */
 Parser.prototype.resolvePropertyParents = function(node) {
-    var currentNode = node;
+    var currentAncestor = node.parent;
+    var nextAncestor = currentAncestor ? currentAncestor.parent : null;
     var doclet;
     var doclets = [];
 
-    do {
-        if (currentNode.parent) {
-            doclet = this._getDoclet(currentNode.parent.nodeId);
-            if (doclet) {
-                doclets.push(doclet);
-            }
-
-            // if the parent is an assignment expression (for example, `exports.FOO` in
-            // `var foo = exports.FOO = { x: 1 }`, keep walking upwards
-            if (currentNode.parent.parent.type === Syntax.AssignmentExpression) {
-                currentNode = currentNode.parent;
-            }
-            // otherwise, we're done
-            else {
-                currentNode = null;
-            }
+    while (currentAncestor) {
+        doclet = this._getDoclet(currentAncestor.nodeId);
+        if (doclet) {
+            doclets.push(doclet);
         }
-    } while (currentNode);
+
+        // if the next ancestor's parent is an assignment expression (for example, `exports.FOO` in
+        // `var foo = exports.FOO = { x: 1 }`, keep walking upwards
+        if (nextAncestor && nextAncestor.type === Syntax.AssignmentExpression) {
+            nextAncestor = nextAncestor.parent;
+            currentAncestor = currentAncestor.parent;
+        }
+        // otherwise, we're done
+        else {
+            currentAncestor = null;
+        }
+    }
 
     return doclets;
 };