diff --git a/src/merkle/index.rs b/src/merkle/index.rs
index 104ceb44..24b38089 100644
--- a/src/merkle/index.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/index.rs
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ impl NodeIndex {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Returns the parent of the current node. This is the same as [`Self::move_up()`], but returns
+    /// a new value instead of mutating `self`.
+    pub const fn parent(mut self) -> Self {
+        self.depth = self.depth.saturating_sub(1);
+        self.value >>= 1;
+        self
+    }
+
     // PROVIDERS
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------