diff --git a/server/rooms.ts b/server/rooms.ts
index 6a7d913b7f..45d2234b00 100644
--- a/server/rooms.ts
+++ b/server/rooms.ts
@@ -676,6 +676,12 @@ export abstract class BasicRoom {
 		}
 	}
 	expire() {
+		const game = this.getGame(BestOfGame);
+		// do not expire parent room until children expire
+		if (game?.games.length) {
+			this.pokeExpireTimer();
+			return;
+		}
 		this.send('|expire|');
 		this.destroy();
 	}