diff --git a/modules/bullet/soft_body_bullet.cpp b/modules/bullet/soft_body_bullet.cpp
index d4b850e938b..13daec699ef 100644
--- a/modules/bullet/soft_body_bullet.cpp
+++ b/modules/bullet/soft_body_bullet.cpp
@@ -117,19 +117,17 @@ void SoftBodyBullet::update_visual_server(SoftBodyVisualServerHandler *p_visual_
 }
 
 void SoftBodyBullet::set_soft_mesh(const Ref<Mesh> &p_mesh) {
-	if (p_mesh.is_null()) {
-		soft_mesh.unref();
-	} else {
-		soft_mesh = p_mesh;
-	}
+	destroy_soft_body();
+
+	soft_mesh = p_mesh;
 
 	if (soft_mesh.is_null()) {
-		destroy_soft_body();
 		return;
 	}
 
-	Array arrays = soft_mesh->surface_get_arrays(0);
 	ERR_FAIL_COND(!(soft_mesh->surface_get_format(0) & VS::ARRAY_FORMAT_INDEX));
+
+	Array arrays = soft_mesh->surface_get_arrays(0);
 	set_trimesh_body_shape(arrays[VS::ARRAY_INDEX], arrays[VS::ARRAY_VERTEX]);
 }