diff --git a/blastmud_game/src/static_content/npc.rs b/blastmud_game/src/static_content/npc.rs
index 23916f76..e860205d 100644
--- a/blastmud_game/src/static_content/npc.rs
+++ b/blastmud_game/src/static_content/npc.rs
@@ -268,6 +268,10 @@ impl TaskHandler for NPCSayTaskHandler {
             Some(r) => r
         };
 
+        if npc_item.is_dead {
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
+
         let (is_explicit, say_what) = match &say_info.talk_type {
             NPCSayType::FromFixedList(l) => {
                 let mut rng = thread_rng();