diff --git a/libobs/obs-scene.c b/libobs/obs-scene.c
index a8513d259..96f995433 100644
--- a/libobs/obs-scene.c
+++ b/libobs/obs-scene.c
@@ -331,19 +331,30 @@ int obs_sceneitem_release(obs_sceneitem_t item)
 void obs_sceneitem_remove(obs_sceneitem_t item)
 {
 	obs_scene_t scene;
+	bool was_removed;
 
-	if (item->removed)
+	if (!item)
 		return;
 
-	item->removed = true;
-
-	signal_item_remove(item);
-
 	scene = item->parent;
 
-	pthread_mutex_lock(&scene->mutex);
+	if (scene)
+		pthread_mutex_lock(&scene->mutex);
+
+	was_removed = item->removed;
+	item->removed = true;
+
+	if (was_removed) {
+		if (scene)
+			pthread_mutex_unlock(&scene->mutex);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	signal_item_remove(item);
 	detach_sceneitem(item);
-	pthread_mutex_unlock(&scene->mutex);
+
+	if (scene)
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&scene->mutex);
 
 	obs_sceneitem_release(item);
 }