diff --git a/code/modules/mob_spawn/mob_spawn.dm b/code/modules/mob_spawn/mob_spawn.dm
index ed4a505038f..d1cb78d61c6 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob_spawn/mob_spawn.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob_spawn/mob_spawn.dm
@@ -208,12 +208,13 @@
  */
 /obj/effect/mob_spawn/ghost_role/proc/create_from_ghost(mob/dead/user)
 	ASSERT(istype(user))
+	var/user_ckey = user.ckey // We need to do it before everything else, because after the create() the ckey will already have been transfered.
+
 	user.log_message("became a [prompt_name].", LOG_GAME)
 	uses -= 1 // Remove a use before trying to spawn to prevent strangeness like the spawner trying to spawn more mobs than it should be able to
 	user.mind = null // dissassociate mind, don't let it follow us to the next life
 
 	var/created = create(user)
-	var/user_ckey = user.ckey // Just in case shenanigans happen, we always want to remove it from the list.
 	LAZYREMOVE(ckeys_trying_to_spawn, user_ckey) // We do this AFTER the create() so that we're basically sure that the user won't be in their ghost body anymore, so they can't click on the spawner again.
 
 	if(!created)