diff --git a/actions/move.php b/actions/move.php
index a8c0adf..9155b7c 100644
--- a/actions/move.php
+++ b/actions/move.php
@@ -78,8 +78,9 @@
 $invite = array();
 
 foreach ($batch as $member) {
-  if (!is_group_member($parent_guid, $member->guid)) {
-	$invite[] = $member->guid;
+  $member_guid = $member->guid;
+  if (!is_group_member($parent_guid, $member_guid)) {
+	$invite[] = $member_guid;
 	// the user isn't a member of the parent group
 	// so we have to remove them from this subgroup, and all subgroups of this subgroup
 	// and send them an invitation
diff --git a/lib/functions.php b/lib/functions.php
index 253988f..5a4bb3a 100644
--- a/lib/functions.php
+++ b/lib/functions.php
@@ -251,7 +251,14 @@ function join_parents_recursive($group, $user = NULL) {
 
 	while ($parent = get_parent_group($group)) {
 		if (!$parent->isMember($user)) {
-			$parent->join($user);
+			if ($parent->join($user)) {
+				elgg_create_river_item(array(
+				    'view' => 'river/relationship/member/create',
+				    'action_type' => 'join',
+				    'subject_guid' => $user->guid,
+				    'object_guid' => $parent->guid,
+				));
+			}
 		}
 
 		$group = $parent;