diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
index d8a5cb13622..1e4f3bd58cc 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
@@ -129,9 +129,8 @@
 	if(!istext(hud_category))
 		return FALSE
 
-	LAZYREMOVE(active_hud_list, hud_category)
-
 	if(!update_huds)
+		LAZYREMOVE(active_hud_list, hud_category)
 		return TRUE
 
 	if(exclusive_hud)
@@ -140,6 +139,8 @@
 		for(var/datum/atom_hud/hud_to_update as anything in GLOB.huds_by_category[hud_category])
 			hud_to_update.remove_single_hud_category_on_atom(src, hud_category)
 
+	LAZYREMOVE(active_hud_list, hud_category)
+
 	return TRUE
 
 /**