diff --git a/homeassistant/components/victron_gx/hub.py b/homeassistant/components/victron_gx/hub.py
index ebc81ae65285..0d6d54cd379b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/victron_gx/hub.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/victron_gx/hub.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from homeassistant.const import (
 )
 from homeassistant.core import HomeAssistant
 from homeassistant.exceptions import ConfigEntryAuthFailed, ConfigEntryNotReady
-from homeassistant.helpers.device_registry import DeviceInfo
+from homeassistant.helpers import device_registry as dr
 from homeassistant.helpers.redact import async_redact_data
 
 from .const import CONF_INSTALLATION_ID, CONF_SERIAL, DOMAIN
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ TO_REDACT = {CONF_USERNAME, CONF_PASSWORD}
 type VictronGxConfigEntry = ConfigEntry[Hub]
 
 type NewMetricCallback = Callable[
-    [VictronVenusDevice, VictronVenusMetric, DeviceInfo, str], None
+    [VictronVenusDevice, VictronVenusMetric, dr.DeviceInfo, str], None
 ]
 
 
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ class Hub:
         config = {**entry.data, **entry.options}
         self.hass = hass
         self.host = config[CONF_HOST]
+        self._config_entry_id = entry.entry_id
+        self._device_registry = dr.async_get(hass)
 
         self._hub = VictronVenusHub(
             host=self.host,
@@ -120,15 +122,39 @@ class Hub:
         if TYPE_CHECKING:
             assert hub.installation_id is not None
         device_info = Hub._map_device_info(device, hub.installation_id)
+        if device.parent_device is not None:
+            device_info["via_device_id"] = self._ensure_device_registered(
+                device.parent_device, hub.installation_id
+            )
         callback = self.new_metric_callbacks.get(metric.metric_kind)
         if callback is not None:
             callback(device, metric, device_info, hub.installation_id)
 
+    def _ensure_device_registered(
+        self, device: VictronVenusDevice, installation_id: str
+    ) -> str:
+        """Register a device and its ancestors (parents first), returning its id.
+
+        Devices are discovered lazily as their metrics arrive, so a child's parent
+        may not be in the registry yet; registering the ancestor chain here lets
+        children link to it via via_device_id instead of the deprecated via_device.
+        """
+        device_info = Hub._map_device_info(device, installation_id)
+        if device.parent_device is not None:
+            device_info["via_device_id"] = self._ensure_device_registered(
+                device.parent_device, installation_id
+            )
+        device_entry = self._device_registry.async_get_or_create(
+            config_entry_id=self._config_entry_id,
+            **device_info,
+        )
+        return device_entry.id
+
     @staticmethod
     def _map_device_info(
         device: VictronVenusDevice, installation_id: str
-    ) -> DeviceInfo:
-        device_info = DeviceInfo(
+    ) -> dr.DeviceInfo:
+        return dr.DeviceInfo(
             identifiers={(DOMAIN, f"{installation_id}_{device.unique_id}")},
             manufacturer=(
                 device.manufacturer
@@ -139,13 +165,6 @@ class Hub:
             model=device.model,
             serial_number=device.serial_number,
         )
-        # Set via_device based on parent_device relationship
-        if device.parent_device is not None:
-            device_info["via_device"] = (
-                DOMAIN,
-                f"{installation_id}_{device.parent_device.unique_id}",
-            )
-        return device_info
 
     def is_device_connected(self, device_identifiers: set[tuple[str, str]]) -> bool:
         """Check if a device is currently known to the hub."""
diff --git a/tests/components/victron_gx/test_init.py b/tests/components/victron_gx/test_init.py
index da5c0ced7d32..0a5bd2975710 100644
--- a/tests/components/victron_gx/test_init.py
+++ b/tests/components/victron_gx/test_init.py
@@ -154,13 +154,13 @@ async def test_hub_start_success(
     assert victron_hub.installation_id == MOCK_INSTALLATION_ID
 
 
-async def test_child_device_via_device_links_to_parent_in_registry(
+async def test_device_via_device_links(
     hass: HomeAssistant,
     init_integration: tuple[VictronVenusHub, MockConfigEntry],
     device_registry: dr.DeviceRegistry,
 ) -> None:
-    """Test non-root device is linked to its parent device in the HA device registry."""
-    victron_hub, _mock_config_entry = init_integration
+    """Test a child device links to its registered parent via via_device_id."""
+    victron_hub, mock_config_entry = init_integration
 
     # Inject a system metric first so system_0 is registered as the gateway device.
     await inject_message(
@@ -177,15 +177,15 @@ async def test_child_device_via_device_links_to_parent_in_registry(
     await finalize_injection(victron_hub)
     await hass.async_block_till_done()
 
-    system_device = device_registry.async_get_device(
-        identifiers={(DOMAIN, f"{MOCK_INSTALLATION_ID}_system_0")}
+    system_device = device_registry.async_get_device_by_identifier(
+        (DOMAIN, f"{MOCK_INSTALLATION_ID}_system_0"), mock_config_entry.entry_id
     )
     assert system_device is not None
     # The GX gateway has no parent — it IS the root.
     assert system_device.via_device_id is None
 
-    battery_device = device_registry.async_get_device(
-        identifiers={(DOMAIN, f"{MOCK_INSTALLATION_ID}_battery_0")}
+    battery_device = device_registry.async_get_device_by_identifier(
+        (DOMAIN, f"{MOCK_INSTALLATION_ID}_battery_0"), mock_config_entry.entry_id
     )
     assert battery_device is not None
     # Battery is a child of the GX gateway, not an orphan.