diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp
index 8cfce2db7e..faeda92a93 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
     void ActiveSpells::update(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, float duration)
     {
+        if (mIterating)
+            return;
         const auto& creatureStats = ptr.getClass().getCreatureStats(ptr);
         assert(&creatureStats.getActiveSpells() == this);
         IterationGuard guard{ *this };