diff --git a/objects/player/arrow_projectile.gd b/objects/player/arrow_projectile.gd
index e4bedf3..a3964a9 100644
--- a/objects/player/arrow_projectile.gd
+++ b/objects/player/arrow_projectile.gd
@@ -59,22 +59,24 @@ func _on_Hitbox_area_entered(area):
 		queue_free()
 
 func _persist_trail():
-	var particles = $DustParticles
-	remove_child(particles)
-	get_parent().add_child(particles)
-	particles.global_position = global_position
-	particles.emitting = false
-	get_tree().create_timer(particles.lifetime, false).connect("timeout", particles, "queue_free")
+	# don't do this twice to prevent crash
+	if not is_queued_for_deletion():
+		# make particles a sibling so it lives a bit longer than arrow
+		var particles = $DustParticles
+		remove_child(particles)
+		get_parent().add_child(particles)
+		particles.global_position = global_position
+		particles.emitting = false
+		# free particles once they have gone through their lifetime
+		get_tree().create_timer(particles.lifetime, false).connect("timeout", particles, "queue_free")
 
 func _make_sparks():
-	# return if this has already happened to avoid crash
-	if is_queued_for_deletion():
-		return
-	
-	var particles = $SparkParticles
-	remove_child(particles)
-	particles.global_position = global_position + particles.position * scale.x
-	particles.emitting = true
-	get_parent().add_child(particles)
-	var timer = get_tree().create_timer(particles.lifetime, false)
-	timer.connect("timeout", particles, "queue_free")
+	# don't do this twice to prevent crash
+	if not is_queued_for_deletion():
+		var particles = $SparkParticles
+		remove_child(particles)
+		particles.global_position = global_position + particles.position * scale.x
+		particles.emitting = true
+		get_parent().add_child(particles)
+		var timer = get_tree().create_timer(particles.lifetime, false)
+		timer.connect("timeout", particles, "queue_free")