diff --git a/Content.Server/NPC/HTN/PrimitiveTasks/Operators/Combat/Melee/MeleeOperator.cs b/Content.Server/NPC/HTN/PrimitiveTasks/Operators/Combat/Melee/MeleeOperator.cs
index 32be027ec4..5a02b86201 100644
--- a/Content.Server/NPC/HTN/PrimitiveTasks/Operators/Combat/Melee/MeleeOperator.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/NPC/HTN/PrimitiveTasks/Operators/Combat/Melee/MeleeOperator.cs
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ public sealed partial class MeleeOperator : HTNOperator, IHtnConditionalShutdown
         HTNOperatorStatus status;
 
         if (_entManager.TryGetComponent<NPCMeleeCombatComponent>(owner, out var combat) &&
-            blackboard.TryGetValue<EntityUid>(TargetKey, out var target, _entManager))
+            blackboard.TryGetValue<EntityUid>(TargetKey, out var target, _entManager) &&
+            target != EntityUid.Invalid)
         {
             combat.Target = target;
 
diff --git a/Content.Server/NPC/Systems/NPCJukeSystem.cs b/Content.Server/NPC/Systems/NPCJukeSystem.cs
index da9fa1f761..94a30feb0c 100644
--- a/Content.Server/NPC/Systems/NPCJukeSystem.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/NPC/Systems/NPCJukeSystem.cs
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ public sealed class NPCJukeSystem : EntitySystem
                 if (!_melee.TryGetWeapon(uid, out var weaponUid, out var weapon))
                     return;
 
+                if (!HasComp<TransformComponent>(melee.Target))
+                    return;
+
                 var cdRemaining = weapon.NextAttack - _timing.CurTime;
                 var attackCooldown = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1f / _melee.GetAttackRate(weaponUid, uid, weapon));