diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua
index ef3f6c17a..f3e02a0c3 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_item_entity/init.lua
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 
 			--magnet and collection
 			for _,object in ipairs(minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(checkpos, item_drop_settings.radius_magnet)) do
-				if not object:is_player() and object:get_luaentity() and object:get_luaentity().name == "__builtin:item" and (object:get_luaentity()._insta_collect or (object:get_luaentity().age > item_drop_settings.age)) then
+				if not object:is_player() and object:get_luaentity() and object:get_luaentity().name == "__builtin:item" and object:get_luaentity()._magnet_timer and (object:get_luaentity()._insta_collect or (object:get_luaentity().age > item_drop_settings.age)) then
 					object:get_luaentity()._magnet_timer = object:get_luaentity()._magnet_timer + dtime
 					local collected = false
 					if object:get_luaentity()._magnet_timer >= 0 and object:get_luaentity()._magnet_timer < item_drop_settings.magnet_time and inv and inv:room_for_item("main", ItemStack(object:get_luaentity().itemstring)) then