diff --git a/src/components/tabs/tab.ts b/src/components/tabs/tab.ts
index 4f0f8db1cb2..94e5e23995b 100644
--- a/src/components/tabs/tab.ts
+++ b/src/components/tabs/tab.ts
@@ -233,9 +233,9 @@ export class Tab extends NavController {
 
     parent.add(this);
 
-    if (parentTabs.rootNav) {
-      this._sbEnabled = parentTabs.rootNav.isSwipeBackEnabled();
-    }    
+    if (parent.rootNav) {
+      this._sbEnabled = parent.rootNav.isSwipeBackEnabled();
+    }
 
     this._panelId = 'tabpanel-' + this.id;
     this._btnId = 'tab-' + this.id;