diff --git a/crates/game-service/tests/walk_to_tower.rs b/crates/game-service/tests/walk_to_tower.rs
index 864abf4..2cd8eef 100644
--- a/crates/game-service/tests/walk_to_tower.rs
+++ b/crates/game-service/tests/walk_to_tower.rs
@@ -122,6 +122,19 @@ fn the_bot_deploys_in_front_of_its_own_towers() {
             }
         }
         session.advance_to(tick);
+        for (side, leader) in session.mode().battle.leaders.iter().enumerate() {
+            let alive = session
+                .mode()
+                .battle
+                .objects
+                .objects
+                .iter()
+                .any(|entry| entry.global_id == *leader);
+            assert!(
+                alive,
+                "t={tick}: side {side}'s leader {leader:?} is no longer in the battle"
+            );
+        }
         if session.is_finished() || session.towers_standing().0 == 0 {
             println!("battle over at t={tick} after {plays} bot plays");
             break;
@@ -205,3 +218,39 @@ fn a_bot_troop_walks_at_the_player_towers() {
         "the bot troop walked away from the player towers to {end:?}"
     );
 }
+#[test]
+fn both_leaders_resolve_to_a_summoner() {
+    let root = assets();
+    if let Ok(tables) = LogicDataTables::load_from_dir(&root) {
+        LogicDataTables::install(Arc::new(tables));
+    }
+    let builder = BattleBuilder::new(&root);
+    let mode = builder
+        .build(
+            LogicDataRef::by_name(table::LOCATIONS, "PvP_goblin"),
+            LogicDataRef::None,
+            LogicDataRef::by_name(table::ARENAS, "Arena_T"),
+            vec![avatar(5), avatar(0)],
+            [None, None],
+            1,
+        )
+        .expect("battle");
+    println!("leaders: {:?}", mode.battle.leaders);
+    for (side, leader) in mode.battle.leaders.iter().enumerate() {
+        assert!(
+            !leader.is_none(),
+            "side {side} has no leader; LogicBattle::resetSimulatedManaTimers reads both \
+             without checking for null and takes the client down with it"
+        );
+        let found = mode
+            .battle
+            .objects
+            .objects
+            .iter()
+            .find(|entry| entry.global_id == *leader);
+        assert!(
+            found.is_some(),
+            "side {side}'s leader {leader:?} matches no object in the battle"
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/logic/src/battle/logic_simulation.rs b/crates/logic/src/battle/logic_simulation.rs
index 2997a1b..9406aca 100644
--- a/crates/logic/src/battle/logic_simulation.rs
+++ b/crates/logic/src/battle/logic_simulation.rs
@@ -514,17 +514,20 @@ impl LogicBattle {
         }
     }
     fn remove_dead(&mut self) {
+        let leaders = self.leaders;
         let dead: Vec<crate::battle::logic_game_object_ref::LogicGameObjectRef> = self
             .objects
             .objects
             .iter()
-            .filter(|entry| !entry.is_alive())
+            .filter(|entry| !entry.is_alive() && !leaders.contains(&entry.global_id))
             .map(|entry| entry.global_id)
             .collect();
         if dead.is_empty() {
             return;
         }
-        self.objects.objects.retain(LogicGameObjectEntry::is_alive);
+        self.objects
+            .objects
+            .retain(|entry| entry.is_alive() || leaders.contains(&entry.global_id));
         for towers in self.leader_towers.iter_mut() {
             towers.retain(|tower| !dead.contains(tower));
         }