diff --git a/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm b/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm
index 2fc4fd929c6..84fe1f8e2e4 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm
@@ -284,4 +284,4 @@
 	UnregisterSignal(target, COMSIG_PARENT_QDELETING)
 	targets_hit -= target
 	bodies -= target
-	purple_hearts -= target
+	LAZYREMOVE(purple_hearts, target)