diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/clown_items.dm b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/clown_items.dm
index 84dc2d0c8b7..4e058dfc9d0 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/clown_items.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/clown_items.dm
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 		user << "<span class='notice'>You need to take that [target.name] off before cleaning it.</span>"
 	else if(istype(target,/obj/effect/decal/cleanable))
 		user.visible_message("<span class='warning'>[user] begins to scrub \the [target.name] out with [src].</span>")
-		if(do_after(user, src.cleanspeed))
+		if(do_after(user, src.cleanspeed) && target)
 			user << "<span class='notice'>You scrub \the [target.name] out.</span>"
 			del(target)
 	else