diff --git a/code/map_data.js b/code/map_data.js
index 5e66196e..893ecc3a 100644
--- a/code/map_data.js
+++ b/code/map_data.js
@@ -228,12 +228,10 @@ window.renderPortal = function(ent) {
     // nothing for the portal changed, so don’t update. Let resonators
     // manage themselves if they want to be updated.
     if(!u) return renderResonators(ent);
+    // there were changes, remove old portal
     removeByGuid(ent[0]);
   }
 
-  // there were changes, remove old portal
-  removeByGuid(ent[0]);
-
   var latlng = [ent[2].locationE6.latE6/1E6, ent[2].locationE6.lngE6/1E6];
 
   // pre-loads player names for high zoom levels