diff --git a/code/datums/components/food/edible.dm b/code/datums/components/food/edible.dm
index b238be9f5a7..89ac68c1a16 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/food/edible.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/food/edible.dm
@@ -739,6 +739,8 @@ Behavior that's still missing from this component that original food items had t
 ///Ability to feed food to puppers
 /datum/component/edible/proc/on_entered(datum/source, atom/movable/arrived, atom/old_loc, list/atom/old_locs)
 	SIGNAL_HANDLER
+	if(QDELETED(parent))
+		return
 	SEND_SIGNAL(parent, COMSIG_FOOD_CROSSED, arrived, bitecount)
 
 ///Response to being used to customize something