diff --git a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
index bc3c5eda44..cf88af4942 100644
--- a/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
+++ b/libraries/physics/src/PhysicalEntitySimulation.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ 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);
     }