diff --git a/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.cpp b/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.cpp
index bac220bd56..259006f631 100644
--- a/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ BMessageValueNode::BMessageValueNode(ValueNodeChild* nodeChild,
 	:
 	ValueNode(nodeChild),
 	fType(type),
-	fValid(false),
 	fMessage()
 {
 	fType->AcquireReference();
@@ -291,9 +290,6 @@ BMessageValueNode::ResolvedLocationAndValue(ValueLoader* valueLoader,
 	if (error != B_OK)
 		return error;
 
-	fValid = true;
-	CreateChildren();
-
 	return B_OK;
 }
 
@@ -301,11 +297,6 @@ BMessageValueNode::ResolvedLocationAndValue(ValueLoader* valueLoader,
 status_t
 BMessageValueNode::CreateChildren()
 {
-	// delay child creation until our location / value has been resolved
-	// since we otherwise have no idea as to what value nodes to present
-	if (!fValid)
-		return B_BAD_VALUE;
-
 	if (!fChildren.IsEmpty())
 		return B_OK;
 
diff --git a/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.h b/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.h
index 79ba46e7ac..c648bb2e2e 100644
--- a/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.h
+++ b/src/apps/debugger/value/value_nodes/BMessageValueNode.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ public:
 										ValueLocation*& _location,
 										Value*& _value);
 
+	virtual bool					ChildCreationNeedsValue() const
+										{ return true; }
 	virtual status_t				CreateChildren();
 	virtual int32					CountChildren() const;
 	virtual ValueNodeChild*			ChildAt(int32 index) const;
@@ -40,7 +42,6 @@ private:
 
 private:
 			Type*					fType;
-			bool					fValid;
 			BMessage				fMessage;
 			ChildNodeList			fChildren;
 };