diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/mulebot.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/mulebot.dm
index e693f5f6306..e17620fcf4f 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/mulebot.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/mulebot.dm
@@ -152,10 +152,12 @@
 /mob/living/simple_animal/bot/mulebot/update_overlays()
 	. = ..()
 	if(load && !ismob(load))//buckling handles the mob offsets
-		load.pixel_y = initial(load.pixel_y) + 9
+		var/image/load_overlay = image(icon = load.icon, icon_state = load.icon_state)
+		load_overlay.pixel_y = initial(load.pixel_y) + 9
 		if(load.layer < layer)
-			load.layer = layer + 0.1
-		. += load
+			load_overlay.layer = layer + 0.1
+		load_overlay.overlays = load.overlays
+		. += load_overlay
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/bot/mulebot/ex_act(severity)
 	unload(0)
@@ -419,8 +421,6 @@
 
 	mode = BOT_IDLE
 
-	overlays.Cut()
-
 	unbuckle_all_mobs()
 
 	if(load)
@@ -435,6 +435,8 @@
 				step(load, dirn)
 		load = null
 
+	update_icon(UPDATE_OVERLAYS)
+
 	// in case non-load items end up in contents, dump every else too
 	// this seems to happen sometimes due to race conditions
 	// with items dropping as mobs are loaded