diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game/board/card_item.cpp b/cockatrice/src/game/board/card_item.cpp
index cf3c7db20..62de4a02e 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game/board/card_item.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game/board/card_item.cpp
@@ -460,9 +460,6 @@ void CardItem::mouseDoubleClickEvent(QGraphicsSceneMouseEvent *event)
 
 bool CardItem::animationEvent()
 {
-    if (owner == nullptr) {
-        return false;
-    }
     int rotation = ROTATION_DEGREES_PER_FRAME;
     bool animationIncomplete = true;
     if (!tapped)
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game/game_event_handler.cpp b/cockatrice/src/game/game_event_handler.cpp
index 7bfc4da75..42dd49458 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game/game_event_handler.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game/game_event_handler.cpp
@@ -429,13 +429,13 @@ void GameEventHandler::eventLeave(const Event_Leave &event, int eventPlayerId, c
     if (!player)
         return;
 
+    player->clear();
     emit playerLeft(eventPlayerId);
 
     emit logLeave(player, getLeaveReason(event.reason()));
 
     game->getPlayerManager()->removePlayer(eventPlayerId);
 
-    player->clear();
     player->deleteLater();
 
     // Rearrange all remaining zones so that attachment relationship updates take place