diff --git a/Lib/test/test_curses.py b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
index 441eafd6e0d477..c589f58468beab 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_curses.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
@@ -1718,6 +1718,14 @@ def test_input_options(self):
         stdscr.timeout(0)
         stdscr.timeout(5)
 
+    def test_getparent(self):
+        # getparent() calls no curses function, so it works with any backend
+        # and is not gated like the is_*() getters below.
+        stdscr = self.stdscr
+        self.assertIsNone(stdscr.getparent())
+        sub = stdscr.subwin(3, 3, 0, 0)
+        self.assertIs(sub.getparent(), stdscr)
+
     @requires_curses_window_meth('is_scrollok')
     def test_state_getters(self):
         stdscr = self.stdscr
@@ -1771,13 +1779,11 @@ def test_state_getters(self):
         stdscr.setscrreg(5, 10)
         self.assertEqual(stdscr.getscrreg(), (5, 10))
 
-        # is_pad()/is_subwin()/getparent().
+        # is_pad()/is_subwin().
         self.assertIs(stdscr.is_pad(), False)
         self.assertIs(stdscr.is_subwin(), False)
-        self.assertIsNone(stdscr.getparent())
         sub = stdscr.subwin(3, 3, 0, 0)
         self.assertIs(sub.is_subwin(), True)
-        self.assertIs(sub.getparent(), stdscr)
         pad = curses.newpad(5, 5)
         self.assertIs(pad.is_pad(), True)
 
diff --git a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
index 7314708cff7a81..4fbb92074e7754 100644
--- a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
@@ -1870,6 +1870,7 @@ PyCursesWindow_getscrreg(PyObject *op, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
     }
     return Py_BuildValue("(ii)", top, bottom);
 }
+#endif /* NCURSES_EXT_FUNCS >= 20110404 || PDCURSES */
 
 static PyObject *
 PyCursesWindow_getparent(PyObject *op, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
@@ -1882,7 +1883,6 @@ PyCursesWindow_getparent(PyObject *op, PyObject *Py_UNUSED(ignored))
     }
     return Py_NewRef((PyObject *)self->orig);
 }
-#endif /* NCURSES_EXT_FUNCS >= 20110404 || PDCURSES */
 
 Window_NoArgNoReturnVoidFunction(wsyncup)
 Window_NoArgNoReturnVoidFunction(wsyncdown)
@@ -4963,11 +4963,9 @@ static PyMethodDef PyCursesWindow_methods[] = {
     {"getmaxyx", PyCursesWindow_getmaxyx, METH_NOARGS,
      "getmaxyx($self, /)\n--\n\n"
      "Return a tuple (y, x) of the window height and width."},
-#if (defined(NCURSES_EXT_FUNCS) && NCURSES_EXT_FUNCS >= 20110404) || defined(PDCURSES)
     {"getparent", PyCursesWindow_getparent, METH_NOARGS,
      "getparent($self, /)\n--\n\n"
      "Return the parent window, or None if this is not a subwindow."},
-#endif
     {"getparyx", PyCursesWindow_getparyx, METH_NOARGS,
      "getparyx($self, /)\n--\n\n"
      "Return (y, x) relative to the parent window, or (-1, -1) if none."},