diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/mobs.dm b/code/__HELPERS/mobs.dm
index 74a1fbd785..34a34273dc 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/mobs.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/mobs.dm
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(species_list)
 		else
 			return "unknown"
 
-/proc/do_mob(mob/user , mob/target, time = 30, uninterruptible = 0, progress = 1, datum/callback/extra_checks = null)
+/proc/do_mob(mob/user , mob/target, time = 30, uninterruptible = 0, progress = 1, datum/callback/extra_checks = null, ignorehelditem = 0)
 	if(!user || !target)
 		return 0
 	var/user_loc = user.loc
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(species_list)
 			drifting = 0
 			user_loc = user.loc
 
-		if((!drifting && user.loc != user_loc) || target.loc != target_loc || user.get_active_held_item() != holding || user.incapacitated() || user.lying || (extra_checks && !extra_checks.Invoke()))
+		if((!drifting && user.loc != user_loc) || target.loc != target_loc || (!ignorehelditem && user.get_active_held_item() != holding) || user.incapacitated() || user.lying || (extra_checks && !extra_checks.Invoke()))
 			. = 0
 			break
 	if (progress)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human.dm
index 49d2722323..13da7b913c 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human.dm
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
 			else
 				return
 
-			if(do_mob(usr, src, POCKET_STRIP_DELAY/delay_denominator)) //placing an item into the pocket is 4 times faster
+			if(do_mob(usr, src, POCKET_STRIP_DELAY/delay_denominator, ignorehelditem = TRUE)) //placing an item into the pocket is 4 times faster
 				if(pocket_item)
 					if(pocket_item == (pocket_id == SLOT_R_STORE ? r_store : l_store)) //item still in the pocket we search
 						dropItemToGround(pocket_item)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
index b9b6424092..ae662c7628 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@
 	who.visible_message("<span class='danger'>[src] tries to remove [who]'s [what.name].</span>", \
 					"<span class='userdanger'>[src] tries to remove [who]'s [what.name].</span>")
 	what.add_fingerprint(src)
-	if(do_mob(src, who, what.strip_delay))
+	if(do_mob(src, who, what.strip_delay, ignorehelditem = TRUE))
 		if(what && Adjacent(who))
 			if(islist(where))
 				var/list/L = where