diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
index 06d025244a..ed7b986800 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
@@ -62,15 +62,10 @@ void PhysicalEntitySimulation::removeEntityInternal(EntityItem* entity) {
     if (motionState) {
         motionState->clearEntity();
         entity->setPhysicsInfo(nullptr);
-
-        // NOTE: we must remove entity from _pendingAdds immediately because we've disconnected the backpointers between
-        // motionState and entity and they can't be used to look up each other.  However we don't need to remove
-        // motionState from _pendingChanges at this time becuase it will be removed during getObjectsToDelete().
-        _pendingAdds.remove(entity);
-
         _pendingRemoves.insert(motionState);
         _outgoingChanges.remove(motionState);
     }
+    _pendingAdds.remove(entity);
 }
 
 void PhysicalEntitySimulation::changeEntityInternal(EntityItem* entity) {