diff --git a/code/parse/sexp.cpp b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
index fd2a32b400e..903214c4cae 100644
--- a/code/parse/sexp.cpp
+++ b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
@@ -9542,9 +9542,6 @@ int test_argument_nodes_for_condition(int n, int condition_node, int *num_true,
 		// only eval this argument if it's valid
 		if (Sexp_nodes[n].flags & SNF_ARGUMENT_VALID)
 		{
-			// flush conditional to avoid short-circuiting
-			flush_sexp_tree(condition_node);
-
 			// evaluate conditional for current argument
 			Sexp_replacement_arguments.emplace_back(Sexp_nodes[n].text, n);
 			val = eval_sexp(condition_node);
@@ -9626,9 +9623,6 @@ int test_argument_vector_for_condition(const SCP_vector<std::pair<char*, int>> &
 	{
 		// since we can't see or modify the validity, assume all are valid
 		{
-			// flush conditional to avoid short-circuiting
-			flush_sexp_tree(condition_node);
-
 			// evaluate conditional for current argument
 			Sexp_replacement_arguments.push_back(argument);
 			val = eval_sexp(condition_node);
@@ -9838,9 +9832,8 @@ int eval_random_of(int arg_handler_node, int condition_node, bool multiple)
 	val = SEXP_FALSE;
 	if (Sexp_nodes[n].flags & SNF_ARGUMENT_VALID)
 	{
-		// flush stuff
+		// ensure special argument list is empty
 		Sexp_applicable_argument_list.clear_nesting_level();
-		flush_sexp_tree(condition_node);
 
 		// evaluate conditional for current argument
 		Sexp_replacement_arguments.emplace_back(Sexp_nodes[n].text, n);
@@ -9891,9 +9884,8 @@ int eval_in_sequence(int arg_handler_node, int condition_node)
 	// Only execute if the argument is valid (if all nodes were invalid we would still reach this point)
 	if (Sexp_nodes[n].flags & SNF_ARGUMENT_VALID)
 	{
-		// flush stuff
+		// ensure special argument list is empty
 		Sexp_applicable_argument_list.clear_nesting_level();
-		flush_sexp_tree(condition_node);
 
 		// evaluate conditional for current argument
 		Sexp_replacement_arguments.emplace_back(Sexp_nodes[n].text, n);