diff --git a/packages/system/src/utils/store.ts b/packages/system/src/utils/store.ts
index 5a977cc0..3f08b0f7 100644
--- a/packages/system/src/utils/store.ts
+++ b/packages/system/src/utils/store.ts
@@ -104,8 +104,12 @@ function updateChildPosition<NodeType extends NodeBase>(
 
   const parentId = node.parentId!;
   const parentNode = nodeLookup.get(parentId);
+
   if (!parentNode) {
-    throw new Error(`Parent node ${parentId} not found`);
+    console.warn(
+      `[React Flow]: Parent node ${parentId} not found. Please make sure that parent nodes are in front of their child nodes in the nodes array.`
+    );
+    return;
   }
 
   // update the parentLookup