diff --git a/src/EcsWorld.cs b/src/EcsWorld.cs
index bbf20db..8cc023b 100644
--- a/src/EcsWorld.cs
+++ b/src/EcsWorld.cs
@@ -383,7 +383,8 @@ namespace DCFApixels.DragonECS
             int delCount = 0;
             foreach (var e in Entities)
             {
-                if (_entities[e].componentsCount <= 0)
+                ref var ent = ref _entities[e];
+                if (ent.componentsCount <= 0 && ent.isUsed)
                 {
                     delCount++;
                 }