diff --git a/code/datums/elements/dusts_on_leaving_area.dm b/code/datums/elements/dusts_on_leaving_area.dm
index 9527e1fd3a..7b1807a15c 100644
--- a/code/datums/elements/dusts_on_leaving_area.dm
+++ b/code/datums/elements/dusts_on_leaving_area.dm
@@ -1,28 +1,20 @@
 /datum/element/dusts_on_leaving_area
 	element_flags = ELEMENT_DETACH | ELEMENT_BESPOKE
 	id_arg_index = 2
-	var/list/attached_mobs = list()
 	var/list/area_types = list()
 
 /datum/element/dusts_on_leaving_area/Attach(datum/target,types)
 	. = ..()
 	if(!ismob(target))
 		return ELEMENT_INCOMPATIBLE
-	attached_mobs += target
 	area_types = types
-	START_PROCESSING(SSprocessing,src)
+	RegisterSignal(target,COMSIG_ENTER_AREA,.proc/check_dust)
 
 /datum/element/dusts_on_leaving_area/Detach(mob/M)
 	. = ..()
-	if(M in attached_mobs)
-		attached_mobs -= M
-	if(!attached_mobs.len)
-		STOP_PROCESSING(SSprocessing,src)
+	UnregisterSignal(M,COMSIG_ENTER_AREA)
 
-/datum/element/dusts_on_leaving_area/process()
-	for(var/m in attached_mobs)
-		var/mob/M = m
-		var/area/A = get_area(M)
-		if(!(A.type in area_types))
-			M.dust(force = TRUE)
-			Detach(M)
+/datum/element/dusts_on_leaving_area/proc/check_dust(datum/source, area/A)
+	var/mob/M = source
+	if(istype(M) && !(A.type in area_types))
+		M.dust(force = TRUE)