diff --git a/pyqtgraph/parametertree/Parameter.py b/pyqtgraph/parametertree/Parameter.py
index e28085bf..be77c9ff 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/parametertree/Parameter.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/parametertree/Parameter.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class Parameter(QtCore.QObject):
             raise Exception("Parameter must have a string name specified in opts.")
         self.setName(name)
         
-        self.addChildren(self.opts.get('children', []))
+        self.addChildren(self.opts.pop('children', []))
         
         self.opts['value'] = None
         if value is not None: