diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/megafauna/dragon.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/megafauna/dragon.dm
index b68e2eef66..43c9197edc 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/megafauna/dragon.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/megafauna/dragon.dm
@@ -191,7 +191,9 @@ Difficulty: Medium
 		sleep(1)
 		if(QDELETED(src) || stat == DEAD) //we got hit and died, rip us
 			qdel(F)
-			swooping &= ~SWOOP_DAMAGEABLE
+			if(stat == DEAD)
+				swooping &= ~SWOOP_DAMAGEABLE
+				animate(src, alpha = 255, transform = oldtransform, time = 0, flags = ANIMATION_END_NOW) //reset immediately
 			return
 	animate(src, alpha = 100, transform = matrix()*0.7, time = 7)
 	swooping |= SWOOP_INVULNERABLE