diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
index 4d46c9c8..da0f11c1 100644
--- a/src/config.ts
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ export class Config implements IConfig {
     } catch {}
     return 0
   }
-  protected async loadPlugins(root: string, type: string, plugins: (string | {root?: string, name?: string, tag?: string})[]) {
+  protected async loadPlugins(root: string, type: string, plugins: (string | {root?: string, name?: string, tag?: string})[], parent?: Plugin.Plugin) {
     if (!plugins || !plugins.length) return
     debug('loading plugins', plugins)
     await Promise.all((plugins || []).map(async plugin => {
@@ -435,7 +435,11 @@ export class Config implements IConfig {
         await instance.load()
         if (this.plugins.find(p => p.name === instance.name)) return
         this.plugins.push(instance)
-        await this.loadPlugins(instance.root, type, instance.pjson.oclif.plugins || [])
+        if (parent) {
+          instance.parent = parent
+          parent.children.push(instance)
+        }
+        await this.loadPlugins(instance.root, type, instance.pjson.oclif.plugins || [], instance)
       } catch (err) {
         this.warn(err, 'loadPlugins')
       }
diff --git a/src/plugin.ts b/src/plugin.ts
index 30c3f949..492a9a41 100644
--- a/src/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugin.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export interface Options {
   tag?: string
   ignoreManifest?: boolean,
   errorOnManifestCreate?: boolean
+  parent?: Plugin
+  children?: Plugin[]
 }
 
 export interface IPlugin {
@@ -86,6 +88,8 @@ export class Plugin implements IPlugin {
   hooks!: {[k: string]: string[]}
   valid = false
   alreadyLoaded = false
+  parent: Plugin | undefined
+  children: Plugin[] = []
   protected _debug = Debug()
   protected warned = false