diff --git a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
index b87329d5b6..eab28f500a 100644
--- a/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities-renderer/src/EntityTreeRenderer.cpp
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ EntityTreeRenderer::EntityTreeRenderer(bool wantScripts, AbstractViewStateInterf
 }
 
 EntityTreeRenderer::~EntityTreeRenderer() {
-    // NOTE: we don't need to delete _entitiesScriptEngine because it is registered with the application and has a
-    // signal tied to call it's deleteLater on doneRunning
+    // NOTE: We don't need to delete _entitiesScriptEngine because
+    //       it is registered with ScriptEngines, which will call deleteLater for us.
 }
 
 void EntityTreeRenderer::clear() {
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp b/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp
index 31047dd423..e03d577300 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp
+++ b/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp
@@ -154,7 +154,9 @@ ScriptEngine::~ScriptEngine() {
 
 void ScriptEngine::disconnectNonEssentialSignals() {
     disconnect();
-    connect(this, &ScriptEngine::doneRunning, thread(), &QThread::quit);
+    if (_isRunning && _isThreaded) { // ensure the thread is running
+        connect(this, &ScriptEngine::doneRunning, thread(), &QThread::quit);
+    }
 }
 
 void ScriptEngine::runInThread() {