diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/melee/misc.dm b/code/game/objects/items/melee/misc.dm
index 3dcf6d36e7..7d4cd2d91d 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/melee/misc.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/melee/misc.dm
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@
 			if(!iscarbon(user))
 				target.LAssailant = null
 			else
-				target.LAssailant = user
+				target.LAssailant = WEAKREF(user)
 			cooldown_check = world.time + cooldown
 			user.adjustStaminaLossBuffered(getweight())//CIT CHANGE - makes swinging batons cost stamina
 		else
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
index cd448d090f..a2a69cb49a 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@
 		if(!iscarbon(src))
 			M.LAssailant = null
 		else
-			M.LAssailant = usr
+			M.LAssailant = WEAKREF(usr)
 		if(isliving(M))
 			var/mob/living/L = M
 			//Share diseases that are spread by touch
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/slime/life.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/slime/life.dm
index a923da6ed6..4b89d96e64 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/slime/life.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/slime/life.dm
@@ -186,12 +186,13 @@
 	if(M.stat == DEAD) // our victim died
 		if(!client)
 			if(!rabid && !attacked)
-				if(M.LAssailant && M.LAssailant != M)
+				var/mob/living/carbon/their_attacker = M.getLAssailant()
+				if(their_attacker != M)
 					if(prob(50))
-						if(!(M.LAssailant in Friends))
-							Friends[M.LAssailant] = 1
+						if(!(their_attacker in Friends))
+							Friends[their_attacker] = 1
 						else
-							++Friends[M.LAssailant]
+							++Friends[their_attacker]
 		else
 			to_chat(src, "<i>This subject does not have a strong enough life energy anymore...</i>")
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
index 8f6957c0c4..e6cdf81e38 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
@@ -955,6 +955,9 @@ GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(exploit_warn_spam_prevention, 0)
 	. = ..()
 	update_movespeed(FALSE)
 
+/mob/proc/getLAssailant()
+	return LAssailant?.resolve()
+
 /// Updates the grab state of the mob and updates movespeed
 /mob/setGrabState(newstate)
 	. = ..()
@@ -975,4 +978,4 @@ GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(exploit_warn_spam_prevention, 0)
 /mob/proc/equipped_speed_mods()
 	for(var/obj/item/I in held_items)
 		if(I.item_flags & SLOWS_WHILE_IN_HAND)
-			. += I.slowdown
\ No newline at end of file
+			. += I.slowdown
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm
index 638a3aa0e2..6725e29610 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob_defines.dm
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@
 	var/list/faction = list("neutral") //A list of factions that this mob is currently in, for hostile mob targetting, amongst other things
 	var/move_on_shuttle = 1 // Can move on the shuttle.
 
-//The last mob/living/carbon to push/drag/grab this mob (mostly used by slimes friend recognition)
-	var/mob/living/carbon/LAssailant = null
+	/// The last mob/living/carbon to push/drag/grab this mob (mostly used by slimes friend recognition)
+	var/datum/weakref/LAssailant
 
 	var/list/obj/user_movement_hooks	//Passes movement in client/Move() to these!
 
diff --git a/code/modules/recycling/disposal/bin.dm b/code/modules/recycling/disposal/bin.dm
index 38b62546a8..78e18a01e2 100644
--- a/code/modules/recycling/disposal/bin.dm
+++ b/code/modules/recycling/disposal/bin.dm
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
 		else
 			target.visible_message("<span class='danger'>[user] has placed [target] in [src].</span>", "<span class='userdanger'>[user] has placed [target] in [src].</span>")
 			log_combat(user, target, "stuffed", addition="into [src]")
-			target.LAssailant = user
+			target.LAssailant = WEAKREF(user)
 		update_icon()
 
 /obj/machinery/disposal/proc/can_stuff_mob_in(mob/living/target, mob/living/user, pushing = FALSE)
diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobio_camera.dm b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobio_camera.dm
index 9682d404ea..5492e9bc38 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobio_camera.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobio_camera.dm
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@
 		if(X.monkeys >= 1)
 			var/mob/living/carbon/monkey/food = new /mob/living/carbon/monkey(remote_eye.loc, TRUE, owner)
 			if (!QDELETED(food))
-				food.LAssailant = C
+				food.LAssailant = WEAKREF(C)
 				X.monkeys --
 				to_chat(owner, "<span class='notice'>[X] now has [X.monkeys] monkey(s) left.</span>")
 		else
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@
 		if(X.monkeys >= 1)
 			var/mob/living/carbon/monkey/food = new /mob/living/carbon/monkey(T, TRUE, C)
 			if (!QDELETED(food))
-				food.LAssailant = C
+				food.LAssailant = WEAKREF(C)
 				X.monkeys--
 				X.monkeys = round(X.monkeys, 0.1)		//Prevents rounding errors
 				to_chat(C, "<span class='notice'>[X] now has [X.monkeys] monkey(s) stored.</span>")