diff --git a/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm b/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm
index ef659be0b4e..f39f6d90062 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/pellet_cloud.dm
@@ -286,4 +286,4 @@
 	UnregisterSignal(target, COMSIG_PARENT_QDELETING)
 	targets_hit -= target
 	bodies -= target
-	purple_hearts -= target
+	LAZYREMOVE(purple_hearts, target)