diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
index 9ef27aaf53..a677cfae4d 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ void PhysicalEntitySimulation::clearEntitiesInternal() {
     // finally clear all lists maintained by this class
     _physicalObjects.clear();
     _entitiesToRemoveFromPhysics.clear();
+    _entitiesToRelease.clear();
     _entitiesToAddToPhysics.clear();
     _pendingChanges.clear();
     _outgoingChanges.clear();
@@ -157,6 +158,7 @@ void PhysicalEntitySimulation::prepareEntityForDelete(EntityItemPointer entity)
 // end EntitySimulation overrides
 
 void PhysicalEntitySimulation::getObjectsToRemoveFromPhysics(VectorOfMotionStates& result) {
+    _entitiesToRelease.clear();
     result.clear();
     QMutexLocker lock(&_mutex);
     for (auto entity: _entitiesToRemoveFromPhysics) {
@@ -171,7 +173,7 @@ void PhysicalEntitySimulation::getObjectsToRemoveFromPhysics(VectorOfMotionState
             _entitiesToDelete.insert(entity);
         }
     }
-    _entitiesToRemoveFromPhysics.clear();
+    _entitiesToRemoveFromPhysics.swap(_entitiesToRelease);
 }
 
 void PhysicalEntitySimulation::getObjectsToAddToPhysics(VectorOfMotionStates& result) {
diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.h b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.h
index bc80d50d0a..1c783d2f31 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.h
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.h
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ public:
 
 private:
     SetOfEntities _entitiesToRemoveFromPhysics;
+    SetOfEntities _entitiesToRelease;
     SetOfEntities _entitiesToAddToPhysics;
 
     SetOfEntityMotionStates _pendingChanges; // EntityMotionStates already in PhysicsEngine that need their physics changed
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ private:
     PhysicsEnginePointer _physicsEngine = nullptr;
     EntityEditPacketSender* _entityPacketSender = nullptr;
 
-    uint32_t _lastStepSendPackets = 0;
+    uint32_t _lastStepSendPackets { 0 };
 };