diff --git a/lib/network/modules/LayoutEngine.js b/lib/network/modules/LayoutEngine.js
index b068133a..2f4addfc 100644
--- a/lib/network/modules/LayoutEngine.js
+++ b/lib/network/modules/LayoutEngine.js
@@ -381,9 +381,11 @@ class LayoutEngine {
     // the main method to shift the trees
     let shiftTrees = () => {
       let treeSizes = getTreeSizes();
+      let shiftBy = 0;
       for (let i = 0; i < treeSizes.length - 1; i++) {
         let diff = treeSizes[i].max - treeSizes[i+1].min;
-        shiftTree(i + 1, diff + this.options.hierarchical.treeSpacing);
+        shiftBy += diff + this.options.hierarchical.treeSpacing;
+        shiftTree(i + 1, shiftBy);
       }
     };
 
@@ -1358,4 +1360,4 @@ class LayoutEngine {
 
 }
 
-export default LayoutEngine;
\ No newline at end of file
+export default LayoutEngine;