diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index bda4da1..2f4bdb6 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ item_entity.on_step = function(self, dtime, ...)
 
 	old_on_step(self, dtime, ...)
 
-	-- Ignore the item if it should not interact with physics
-	if not self.physical_state then
+	-- Ignore the item if it should not interact with physics or was removed
+	if not self.physical_state or not self.object:is_valid() then
 		return
 	end