diff --git a/code/mob/dead/observer.dm b/code/mob/dead/observer.dm
index 5ec3581c0a754..f62839e100f51 100644
--- a/code/mob/dead/observer.dm
+++ b/code/mob/dead/observer.dm
@@ -330,7 +330,8 @@
 		if(istype(get_area(src),/area/afterlife))
 			qdel(src)
 
-		respawn_controller.subscribeNewRespawnee(our_ghost.ckey)
+		if(!istype(src, /mob/dead))
+			respawn_controller.subscribeNewRespawnee(our_ghost.ckey)
 		var/datum/respawnee/respawnee = global.respawn_controller.respawnees[our_ghost.ckey]
 		if(istype(respawnee) && istype(our_ghost, /mob/dead/observer)) // target observers don't have huds
 			respawnee.update_time_display()