diff --git a/nio/rooms.py b/nio/rooms.py
index 572e5021..9e3ca4ad 100644
--- a/nio/rooms.py
+++ b/nio/rooms.py
@@ -412,10 +412,16 @@ def handle_event(self, event: Event) -> None:
                     self.users[user_id].power_level = level
 
         elif isinstance(event, RoomSpaceParentEvent):
-            self.parents.add(event.state_key)
+            if "via" in event.source.get("content", {}):
+                self.parents.add(event.state_key)
+            else:
+                self.parents.discard(event.state_key)
 
         elif isinstance(event, RoomSpaceChildEvent):
-            self.children.add(event.state_key)
+            if "via" in event.source.get("content", {}):
+                self.children.add(event.state_key)
+            else:
+                self.children.discard(event.state_key)
 
     def handle_account_data(self, event: AccountDataEvent) -> None:
         if isinstance(event, FullyReadEvent):
diff --git a/nio/schemas.py b/nio/schemas.py
index 2508f483..9fc2c10f 100644
--- a/nio/schemas.py
+++ b/nio/schemas.py
@@ -962,7 +962,6 @@ class Schemas:
                     "canonical": {"type": "boolean", "default": False},
                     "via": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}},
                 },
-                "required": ["via"],
             },
         },
         "required": ["type", "sender", "content", "state_key"],
@@ -981,7 +980,6 @@ class Schemas:
                     "via": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}},
                     "order": {"type": "string"},
                 },
-                "required": ["via"],
             },
         },
         "required": ["type", "sender", "content", "state_key"],
diff --git a/tests/room_test.py b/tests/room_test.py
index cce621c2..c02e5ac1 100644
--- a/tests/room_test.py
+++ b/tests/room_test.py
@@ -481,22 +481,80 @@ def test_space_parent(self):
         assert room.parents == set()
         room.handle_event(
             RoomSpaceParentEvent(
-                {"event_id": "event_id", "sender": BOB_ID, "origin_server_ts": 0},
+                {
+                    "event_id": "event_id",
+                    "sender": BOB_ID,
+                    "origin_server_ts": 0,
+                    "content": {},
+                },
+                "!X:example.org",
+            )
+        )
+        assert "!X:example.org" not in room.parents
+        room.handle_event(
+            RoomSpaceParentEvent(
+                {
+                    "event_id": "event_id",
+                    "sender": BOB_ID,
+                    "origin_server_ts": 0,
+                    "content": {"via": ["!A:example.org"]},
+                },
                 "!X:example.org",
             )
         )
         assert "!X:example.org" in room.parents
+        room.handle_event(
+            RoomSpaceParentEvent(
+                {
+                    "event_id": "event_id",
+                    "sender": BOB_ID,
+                    "origin_server_ts": 0,
+                    "content": {},
+                },
+                "!X:example.org",
+            )
+        )
+        assert "!X:example.org" not in room.parents
 
     def test_space_child(self):
         room = self.test_room
         assert room.children == set()
         room.handle_event(
             RoomSpaceChildEvent(
-                {"event_id": "event_id", "sender": BOB_ID, "origin_server_ts": 0},
+                {
+                    "event_id": "event_id",
+                    "sender": BOB_ID,
+                    "origin_server_ts": 0,
+                    "content": {},
+                },
+                "!X:example.org",
+            )
+        )
+        assert "!X:example.org" not in room.children
+        room.handle_event(
+            RoomSpaceChildEvent(
+                {
+                    "event_id": "event_id",
+                    "sender": BOB_ID,
+                    "origin_server_ts": 0,
+                    "content": {"via": ["!A:example.org"]},
+                },
                 "!X:example.org",
             )
         )
         assert "!X:example.org" in room.children
+        room.handle_event(
+            RoomSpaceChildEvent(
+                {
+                    "event_id": "event_id",
+                    "sender": BOB_ID,
+                    "origin_server_ts": 0,
+                    "content": {},
+                },
+                "!X:example.org",
+            )
+        )
+        assert "!X:example.org" not in room.children
 
     def test_room_avatar_event(self):
         room = self.test_room