diff --git a/app/controllers/api/taxons_controller.rb b/app/controllers/api/taxons_controller.rb
index 4732c52361..a70677b857 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/taxons_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/api/taxons_controller.rb
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ module Api
         invalid_resource!(@taxon) && return
       end
 
-      @taxon.parent_id = taxonomy.root.id unless params[:taxon][:parent_id]
+      @taxon.parent_id = taxonomy.root.id unless params.dig(:taxon, :parent_id)
 
       if @taxon.save
         render json: @taxon, serializer: Api::TaxonSerializer, status: :created