diff --git a/src/components.rs b/src/components.rs
index 9184dda..0e41714 100644
--- a/src/components.rs
+++ b/src/components.rs
@@ -477,6 +477,9 @@ pub struct EquipmentChanged {}
 #[derive(Component, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub struct WantsToRemoveKey {}
 
+#[derive(Component, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
+pub struct WantsToDelete {}
+
 #[derive(Component, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub struct Key {
     pub idx: usize,
diff --git a/src/damage_system.rs b/src/damage_system.rs
index 65a63cd..723863d 100644
--- a/src/damage_system.rs
+++ b/src/damage_system.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ use super::{
     Position,
     Renderable,
     RunState,
+    WantsToRemoveKey,
+    WantsToDelete,
 };
 use bracket_lib::prelude::*;
 use specs::prelude::*;
@@ -65,7 +67,17 @@ pub fn delete_the_dead(ecs: &mut World) {
             }
         }
     }
-    let (items_to_delete, loot_to_spawn) = handle_dead_entity_items(ecs, &dead);
+    let (mut items_to_delete, loot_to_spawn) = handle_dead_entity_items(ecs, &dead);
+    {
+        let entities = ecs.entities();
+        let removekeys = ecs.read_storage::<WantsToRemoveKey>();
+        let delete = ecs.read_storage::<WantsToDelete>();
+        // Add items marked for deletion to the list, but only if they've already had their key
+        // assignments handled, to ensure we don't leave any dangling references behind.
+        for (e, _d, _r) in (&entities, &delete, !&removekeys).join() {
+            items_to_delete.push(e);
+        }
+    }
     for loot in loot_to_spawn {
         crate::raws::spawn_named_entity(
             &crate::raws::RAWS.lock().unwrap(),
diff --git a/src/effects/triggers.rs b/src/effects/triggers.rs
index 5dd66dd..0d40a17 100644
--- a/src/effects/triggers.rs
+++ b/src/effects/triggers.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ use crate::{
     KnownSpells,
     Position,
     Viewshed,
+    WantsToRemoveKey,
+    WantsToDelete,
 };
 use crate::consts::messages::*;
 use bracket_lib::prelude::*;
@@ -57,7 +59,10 @@ pub fn item_trigger(source: Option<Entity>, item: Entity, target: &Targets, ecs:
     let did_something = event_trigger(source, item, target, ecs);
     // If it's a consumable, delete it
     if did_something && ecs.read_storage::<Consumable>().get(item).is_some() {
-        ecs.entities().delete(item).expect("Failed to delete item");
+        let mut removekey = ecs.write_storage::<WantsToRemoveKey>();
+        removekey.insert(item, WantsToRemoveKey {}).expect("Unable to insert WantsToRemoveKey");
+        let mut delete = ecs.write_storage::<WantsToDelete>();
+        delete.insert(item, WantsToDelete {}).expect("Unable to insert WantsToDelete");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 81695f5..15ec604 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ fn setup(gfx: &mut Graphics) -> State {
     gs.ecs.register::<WantsToAssignKey>();
     gs.ecs.register::<Key>();
     gs.ecs.register::<WantsToRemoveKey>();
+    gs.ecs.register::<WantsToDelete>();
     gs.ecs.register::<SimpleMarker<SerializeMe>>();
     gs.ecs.register::<SerializationHelper>();
     gs.ecs.register::<DMSerializationHelper>();
diff --git a/src/saveload_system.rs b/src/saveload_system.rs
index e4a8528..01ebe98 100644
--- a/src/saveload_system.rs
+++ b/src/saveload_system.rs
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ pub fn save_game(ecs: &mut World) {
             Charges,
             WantsToApproach,
             WantsToAssignKey,
+            WantsToDelete,
             WantsToDropItem,
             WantsToFlee,
             WantsToMelee,
@@ -277,6 +278,7 @@ pub fn load_game(ecs: &mut World) {
             Charges,
             WantsToApproach,
             WantsToAssignKey,
+            WantsToDelete,
             WantsToDropItem,
             WantsToFlee,
             WantsToMelee,