diff --git a/src/serializer.cpp b/src/serializer.cpp
index fe8864a33..e0f74420f 100644
--- a/src/serializer.cpp
+++ b/src/serializer.cpp
@@ -1586,17 +1586,13 @@ FSerializer &Serialize(FSerializer &arc, const char *key, DObject *&value, DObje
 	if (retcode) *retcode = true;
 	if (arc.isWriting())
 	{
-		if (value != nullptr)
+		if (value != nullptr && !(value->ObjectFlags & (OF_EuthanizeMe | OF_Transient)))
 		{
 			int ndx;
 			if (value == WP_NOCHANGE)
 			{
 				ndx = -1;
 			}
-			else if (value->ObjectFlags & (OF_EuthanizeMe | OF_Transient))
-			{
-				return arc;
-			}
 			else
 			{
 				int *pndx = arc.w->mObjectMap.CheckKey(value);