diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index 36feeb7be..4f4a49f49 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -1457,6 +1457,9 @@ namespace MWRender
 
     PartHolder::~PartHolder()
     {
+        if (mNode.get() && !mNode->getNumParents())
+            std::cerr << "Warning: part has no parents " << std::endl;
+
         if (mNode.get() && mNode->getNumParents())
         {
             if (mNode->getNumParents() > 1)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index eee23aa31..99106c920 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -422,6 +422,8 @@ int NpcAnimation::getSlot(const osg::NodePath &path) const
 void NpcAnimation::updateNpcBase()
 {
     clearAnimSources();
+    for(size_t i = 0;i < ESM::PRT_Count;i++)
+        removeIndividualPart((ESM::PartReferenceType)i);
 
     const MWWorld::ESMStore &store = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
     const ESM::Race *race = store.get<ESM::Race>().find(mNpc->mRace);
@@ -501,8 +503,6 @@ void NpcAnimation::updateNpcBase()
         }
     }
 
-    for(size_t i = 0;i < ESM::PRT_Count;i++)
-        removeIndividualPart((ESM::PartReferenceType)i);
     updateParts();
 
     mWeaponAnimationTime->updateStartTime();