diff --git a/crates/bevy_ecs/src/observer/distributed_storage.rs b/crates/bevy_ecs/src/observer/distributed_storage.rs
index c7bead140814f..cb5a813461334 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ecs/src/observer/distributed_storage.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ecs/src/observer/distributed_storage.rs
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ impl Component for ObservedBy {
 
                 // Despawn Observer if it has no more active sources.
                 if total_entities == despawned_watched_entities {
-                    world.commands().entity(e).despawn();
+                    world.commands().entity(e).try_despawn();
                 }
             }
         })