diff --git a/src/emu/hashfile.c b/src/emu/hashfile.c
index d3c1b16a223..f5b6561652c 100644
--- a/src/emu/hashfile.c
+++ b/src/emu/hashfile.c
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ const char *read_hash_config(device_image_interface &image, const char *sysname)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	extra_info = auto_strdup(image.device().machine(),info->extrainfo);
+	extra_info = auto_strdup(image.device().machine(), info->extrainfo);
 	if (!extra_info)
 	{
 		hashfile_close(hashfile);
@@ -576,13 +576,21 @@ const char *hashfile_extrainfo(device_image_interface &image)
 	/* now read the hash file */
 	image.crc();
 	extra_info = NULL;
-	int drv = driver_list::find(image.device().machine().system());
+	int compat, drv = driver_list::find(image.device().machine().system());
 	do
 	{
-		rc = read_hash_config(image,driver_list::driver(drv).name);
-		drv = driver_list::compatible_with(drv);
+		rc = read_hash_config(image, driver_list::driver(drv).name);
+		// first check if there are compatible systems
+		compat = driver_list::compatible_with(drv);
+		// if so, try to open its hashfile
+		if (compat != -1)
+			drv = compat;
+		// otherwise, try with the parent
+		else
+			drv = driver_list::clone(drv);
 	}
-	while(rc!=NULL && drv != -1);
+	// if no extrainfo has been found but we can try a compatible or a parent set, go back
+	while (rc == NULL && drv != -1);
 	return rc;
 }