diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
index 657c4f0ded..1d0cce5a09 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob.dm
@@ -384,12 +384,14 @@
 
 	if(pulling)
 		pulling.pulledby = null
-		if(isliving(pulling))
-			var/mob/living/L = pulling
-			L.update_canmove()// mob gets up if it was lyng down in a chokehold
+		var/mob/living/ex_pulled = pulling
 		pulling = null
 		grab_state = 0
 		update_pull_hud_icon()
+		
+		if(isliving(ex_pulled))
+			var/mob/living/L = ex_pulled
+			L.update_canmove()// mob gets up if it was lyng down in a chokehold
 
 /mob/proc/update_pull_hud_icon()
 	if(hud_used)