diff --git a/sway/tree/container.c b/sway/tree/container.c
index 0385d7c17..b63ca0a28 100644
--- a/sway/tree/container.c
+++ b/sway/tree/container.c
@@ -547,8 +547,8 @@ void container_begin_destroy(struct sway_container *con) {
 
 	container_end_mouse_operation(con);
 
-	con->node.destroying = true;
 	node_set_dirty(&con->node);
+	con->node.destroying = true;
 
 	if (con->scratchpad) {
 		root_scratchpad_remove_container(con);
diff --git a/sway/tree/node.c b/sway/tree/node.c
index 7aaf97627..48ae325e4 100644
--- a/sway/tree/node.c
+++ b/sway/tree/node.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ const char *node_type_to_str(enum sway_node_type type) {
 }
 
 void node_set_dirty(struct sway_node *node) {
-	if (node->dirty) {
+	if (node->dirty || node->destroying) {
 		return;
 	}
 	node->dirty = true;
diff --git a/sway/tree/output.c b/sway/tree/output.c
index 42a403da8..90ec9331d 100644
--- a/sway/tree/output.c
+++ b/sway/tree/output.c
@@ -301,8 +301,8 @@ void output_begin_destroy(struct sway_output *output) {
 	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Destroying output '%s'", output->wlr_output->name);
 	wl_signal_emit_mutable(&output->node.events.destroy, &output->node);
 
-	output->node.destroying = true;
 	node_set_dirty(&output->node);
+	output->node.destroying = true;
 }
 
 struct sway_output *output_from_wlr_output(struct wlr_output *output) {
diff --git a/sway/tree/workspace.c b/sway/tree/workspace.c
index f2be4cd13..733a002b4 100644
--- a/sway/tree/workspace.c
+++ b/sway/tree/workspace.c
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ void workspace_begin_destroy(struct sway_workspace *workspace) {
 	if (workspace->output) {
 		workspace_detach(workspace);
 	}
-	workspace->node.destroying = true;
 	node_set_dirty(&workspace->node);
+	workspace->node.destroying = true;
 }
 
 void workspace_consider_destroy(struct sway_workspace *ws) {