diff --git a/scene/2d/area_2d.cpp b/scene/2d/area_2d.cpp
index ae5891fa50d..4a4aaf3238d 100644
--- a/scene/2d/area_2d.cpp
+++ b/scene/2d/area_2d.cpp
@@ -158,7 +158,9 @@ void Area2D::_body_inout(int p_status, const RID &p_body, int p_instance, int p_
 
 	Map<ObjectID, BodyState>::Element *E = body_map.find(objid);
 
-	ERR_FAIL_COND(!body_in && !E);
+	if (!body_in && !E) {
+		return; //does not exist because it was likely removed from the tree
+	}
 
 	locked = true;
 
diff --git a/scene/3d/area.cpp b/scene/3d/area.cpp
index 5e78368804d..ac77ddb7ce6 100644
--- a/scene/3d/area.cpp
+++ b/scene/3d/area.cpp
@@ -157,7 +157,9 @@ void Area::_body_inout(int p_status, const RID &p_body, int p_instance, int p_bo
 
 	Map<ObjectID, BodyState>::Element *E = body_map.find(objid);
 
-	ERR_FAIL_COND(!body_in && !E);
+	if (!body_in && !E) {
+		return; //likely removed from the tree
+	}
 
 	locked = true;