diff --git a/code/datums/components/_component.dm b/code/datums/components/_component.dm
index fcd4651459..46ffc25643 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/_component.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/_component.dm
@@ -205,13 +205,13 @@
 						new_comp = new nt(arglist(args))
 					if(!QDELETED(new_comp))
 						old_comp.InheritComponent(new_comp, TRUE)
-						qdel(new_comp)
+						QDEL_NULL(new_comp)
 				if(COMPONENT_DUPE_HIGHLANDER)
 					if(!new_comp)
 						new_comp = new nt(arglist(args))
 					if(!QDELETED(new_comp))
 						new_comp.InheritComponent(old_comp, FALSE)
-						qdel(old_comp)
+						QDEL_NULL(old_comp)
 				if(COMPONENT_DUPE_UNIQUE_PASSARGS)
 					if(!new_comp)
 						var/list/arguments = args.Copy(2)