--- src/core/org/apache/jmeter/gui/action/Cut.java	
+++ src/core/org/apache/jmeter/gui/action/Cut.java	
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ 
 package org.apache.jmeter.gui.action;
 
 import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Set;
 
@@ -51,10 +52,32 @@ public class Cut extends AbstractAction {
         GuiPackage guiPack = GuiPackage.getInstance();
         JMeterTreeNode[] currentNodes = guiPack.getTreeListener().getSelectedNodes();
 
+        // if a child and one of its ancestors are selected : only keep the ancestor
+        currentNodes = filterNodes(currentNodes);
+        
         Copy.setCopiedNodes(currentNodes);
         for (int i = 0; i < currentNodes.length; i++) {
             guiPack.getTreeModel().removeNodeFromParent(currentNodes[i]);
         }
         guiPack.getMainFrame().repaint();
     }
+
+    private JMeterTreeNode[] filterNodes(JMeterTreeNode[] currentNodes) {
+        ArrayList<JMeterTreeNode> nodes = new ArrayList<JMeterTreeNode>();
+        for (int i = 0; i < currentNodes.length; i++) {
+            boolean exclude = false;
+            for (int j = 0; j < currentNodes.length; j++) {
+                if(i!=j && currentNodes[i].isNodeAncestor(currentNodes[j])) {
+                    exclude = true;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            
+            if(!exclude) {
+                nodes.add(currentNodes[i]);
+            }
+        }
+        
+        return nodes.toArray(new JMeterTreeNode[nodes.size()]);
+    }
 }
--