diff --git a/av1/encoder/context_tree.c b/av1/encoder/context_tree.c
index 78ccd4f..5544ce9 100644
--- a/av1/encoder/context_tree.c
+++ b/av1/encoder/context_tree.c
@@ -205,12 +205,14 @@
 #if CONFIG_INTERNAL_STATS
   td->pc_root[i]->none.best_mode_index = THR_INVALID;
 #endif  // CONFIG_INTERNAL_STATS
-  // Set up the root nodes for the rest of the possible superblock sizes
-  while (--i >= 0) {
-    td->pc_root[i] = td->pc_root[i + 1]->split[0];
+  if (!stat_generation_stage) {
+    // Set up the root nodes for the rest of the possible superblock sizes
+    while (--i >= 0) {
+      td->pc_root[i] = td->pc_root[i + 1]->split[0];
 #if CONFIG_INTERNAL_STATS
-    td->pc_root[i]->none.best_mode_index = THR_INVALID;
+      td->pc_root[i]->none.best_mode_index = THR_INVALID;
 #endif  // CONFIG_INTERNAL_STATS
+    }
   }
 }