diff --git a/specifyweb/specify/api/crud.py b/specifyweb/specify/api/crud.py
index d0923d3b5d9..f9dcb9e9cd8 100644
--- a/specifyweb/specify/api/crud.py
+++ b/specifyweb/specify/api/crud.py
@@ -172,14 +172,16 @@ def delete_obj(obj, deleter: Callable[[Any, Any], None] | None=None, version=Non
     
     if hasattr(obj, 'pre_constraints_delete'):
         obj.pre_constraints_delete()
-
     if deleter:
         deleter(obj, parent_obj)
 
     obj.delete()
 
+    # before delete obj, store dep id to avoid accessing deleted obj in recursive delete calls
     for dep in dependents_to_delete:
-      delete_obj(dep, deleter, version, parent_obj=obj, clean_predelete=clean_predelete)
+        dep_id = dep.id
+        if dep_id is not None:
+            delete_obj(dep, deleter, version, parent_obj=obj, clean_predelete=clean_predelete)
 
 def update_or_create_resource(collection, agent, model, data, parent_obj, parent_relationship=None): 
     if 'id' in data: