diff --git a/sphinx_needs/api/need.py b/sphinx_needs/api/need.py
index 17f7324dc..22756ee69 100644
--- a/sphinx_needs/api/need.py
+++ b/sphinx_needs/api/need.py
@@ -387,6 +387,10 @@ def run():
 
     needs_info["links"] += copy_links  # Set copied links to main-links
 
+    if parent_needs := needs_info.get("parent_needs"):
+        # ensure parent_need is consistent with parent_needs
+        needs_info["parent_need"] = parent_needs[0]
+
     if jinja_content:
         need_content_context = {**needs_info}
         need_content_context.update(**needs_config.filter_data)
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/test_external.ambr b/tests/__snapshots__/test_external.ambr
index f2f98d490..e6edd1823 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/test_external.ambr
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/test_external.ambr
@@ -531,6 +531,7 @@
             'parent_needs': list([
             ]),
             'parent_needs_back': list([
+              'EXT_TEST_02',
             ]),
             'parts': dict({
             }),
@@ -598,8 +599,9 @@
             'max_content_lines': '',
             'modifications': 0,
             'params': '',
-            'parent_need': '',
+            'parent_need': 'EXT_TEST_01',
             'parent_needs': list([
+              'EXT_TEST_01',
             ]),
             'parent_needs_back': list([
             ]),
diff --git a/tests/doc_test/external_doc/needs_test_small.json b/tests/doc_test/external_doc/needs_test_small.json
index 5ac982674..d191ec7e7 100644
--- a/tests/doc_test/external_doc/needs_test_small.json
+++ b/tests/doc_test/external_doc/needs_test_small.json
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
                     "max_content_lines": "",
                     "parent_need": null,
                     "parent_needs": [],
-                    "parent_needs_back": [],
+                    "parent_needs_back": ["TEST_02"],
                     "parts": {},
                     "post_template": null,
                     "pre_template": null,
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@
                     ],
                     "max_amount": "",
                     "max_content_lines": "",
-                    "parent_need": null,
-                    "parent_needs": [],
+                    "parent_need": "TEST_01",
+                    "parent_needs": ["TEST_01"],
                     "parent_needs_back": [],
                     "parts": {},
                     "post_template": null,