diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
index fb773ee89b..97043a635d 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntityItem.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ EntityItem::EntityItem(const EntityItemID& entityItemID) :
 }
 
 EntityItem::~EntityItem() {
-    assert(isDead()); // mark as dead before calling dtor
     // clear out any left-over actions
     EntityTreePointer entityTree = _element ? _element->getTree() : nullptr;
     EntitySimulation* simulation = entityTree ? entityTree->getSimulation() : nullptr;
diff --git a/libraries/entities/src/EntitySimulation.cpp b/libraries/entities/src/EntitySimulation.cpp
index 35d5b18fda..ab29cfb2a4 100644
--- a/libraries/entities/src/EntitySimulation.cpp
+++ b/libraries/entities/src/EntitySimulation.cpp
@@ -59,11 +59,12 @@ void EntitySimulation::removeEntityInternal(EntityItemPointer entity) {
 
 void EntitySimulation::prepareEntityForDelete(EntityItemPointer entity) {
     assert(entity);
-    assert(entity->isSimulated());
     assert(entity->isDead());
-    entity->clearActions(this);
-    removeEntityInternal(entity);
-    _entitiesToDelete.insert(entity);
+    if (entity->isSimulated()) {
+        entity->clearActions(this);
+        removeEntityInternal(entity);
+        _entitiesToDelete.insert(entity);
+    }
 }
 
 void EntitySimulation::addEntityInternal(EntityItemPointer entity) {
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
index 4116ddeda0..9ef27aaf53 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ void PhysicalEntitySimulation::clearEntitiesInternal() {
 // virtual
 void PhysicalEntitySimulation::prepareEntityForDelete(EntityItemPointer entity) {
     assert(entity);
-    assert(entity->isSimulated());
     assert(entity->isDead());
     entity->clearActions(this);
     removeEntityInternal(entity);