diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua
index 7d0c9d531..aceab7160 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ minetest.register_abm({
 		local inv = meta:get_inventory()
 
 		for _,object in pairs(minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 2)) do
-			if not object:is_player() and object:get_luaentity() and object:get_luaentity().name == "__builtin:item" and not object:get_luaentity()._removed then
+		    local entity = object:get_luaentity()
+			if not object:is_player() and entity and entity.name == "__builtin:item" and not entity._removed then
 				if inv and inv:room_for_item("main", ItemStack(object:get_luaentity().itemstring)) then
 					-- Item must get sucked in when the item just TOUCHES the block above the hopper
 					-- This is the reason for the Y calculation.
@@ -359,7 +360,8 @@ minetest.register_abm({
 					local posob_miny = posob.y + object:get_properties().collisionbox[2]
 					if math.abs(posob.x-pos.x) <= 0.5 and (posob_miny-pos.y < 1.5 and posob.y-pos.y >= 0.3) then
 						inv:add_item("main", ItemStack(object:get_luaentity().itemstring))
-						object:get_luaentity().itemstring = ""
+						entity._removed = true
+						entity.itemstring = ""
 						object:remove()
 					end
 				end