elements are only recounted when unpaused, apparently

src/simulation/Simulation.cpp

@@ -4954,7 +4954,7 @@ void Simulation::RecalcFreeParticles()
 			parts[lastPartUnused].life = parts_lastActiveIndex+1;
 	}
 	parts_lastActiveIndex = lastPartUsed;
-	if (elementRecount)
+	if (elementRecount && !sys_pause || framerender)
 		elementRecount = false;
 }