diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/icon_smoothing.dm b/code/__HELPERS/icon_smoothing.dm
index 6a1cfd6191a..5c5ff5a059a 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/icon_smoothing.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/icon_smoothing.dm
@@ -166,6 +166,8 @@ xxx xxx xxx
 
 ///do not use, use QUEUE_SMOOTH(atom)
 /atom/proc/smooth_icon()
+	if(QDELETED(src))
+		return
 	smoothing_flags &= ~SMOOTH_QUEUED
 	flags_1 |= HTML_USE_INITAL_ICON_1
 	if (!z)