diff --git a/code/map_data.js b/code/map_data.js
index 7fd954e2..ce69e61c 100644
--- a/code/map_data.js
+++ b/code/map_data.js
@@ -233,10 +233,13 @@ window.renderPortal = function(ent) {
       old.options.details = ent[2];
       return;
     }
-    // there were changes, remove old portal
-    removeByGuid(ent[0]);
   }
 
+  // there were changes, remove old portal. Don’t put this in old, in
+  // case the portal changed level and findEntityInLeaflet doesn’t find
+  // it.
+  removeByGuid(ent[0]);
+
   var latlng = [ent[2].locationE6.latE6/1E6, ent[2].locationE6.lngE6/1E6];
 
   // pre-loads player names for high zoom levels