diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiactivate.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiactivate.cpp
index 1f3c58521..2d5d11134 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiactivate.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiactivate.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,9 @@ bool MWMechanics::AiActivate::execute (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor,float duration)
         }
     }
 
-    MWWorld::Ptr target = world->getPtr(mObjectId,false);
+    MWWorld::Ptr target = world->searchPtr(mObjectId,false);
+    if(target == MWWorld::Ptr()) return true;
+
     ESM::Position targetPos = target.getRefData().getPosition();
 
     bool cellChange = cell->mData.mX != mCellX || cell->mData.mY != mCellY;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aifollow.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aifollow.cpp
index cf5291fd3..d3ee21abf 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aifollow.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aifollow.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ MWMechanics::AiFollow::AiFollow(const std::string &actorId,const std::string &ce
 
 bool MWMechanics::AiFollow::execute (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor,float duration)
 {
-    const MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr(mActorId, false);
+    const MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtr(mActorId, false);
+    
+    if(target == MWWorld::Ptr()) return false;
 
     mTimer = mTimer + duration;
     mStuckTimer = mStuckTimer + duration;