diff --git a/sourmash_lib/sbt.py b/sourmash_lib/sbt.py
index 75f35b214c..08245a4584 100644
--- a/sourmash_lib/sbt.py
+++ b/sourmash_lib/sbt.py
@@ -156,7 +156,6 @@ def parent(self, pos):
         if pos == 0:
             return None
         p = int(math.floor((pos - 1) / self.d))
-        self.nodes[p] = self.nodes[p].do_load()
         return NodePos(p, self.nodes[p])
 
     def children(self, pos):
@@ -164,8 +163,6 @@ def children(self, pos):
 
     def child(self, parent, pos):
         cd = self.d * parent + pos + 1
-        if self.nodes[cd] is not None:
-            self.nodes[cd] = self.nodes[cd].do_load()
         return NodePos(cd, self.nodes[cd])
 
     def save(self, tag):
@@ -187,7 +184,6 @@ def save(self, tag):
                 structure[i] = None
                 continue
 
-            node = node.do_load()
             basename = os.path.basename(node.name)
             data = {
                 'filename': os.path.join('.sbt.' + basetag,