diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
index 002cd561d..2ce196fdd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/mechanicsmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -857,6 +857,9 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
     bool MechanicsManager::awarenessCheck(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const MWWorld::Ptr &observer)
     {
+        if (observer.getClass().getCreatureStats(observer).isDead())
+            return false;
+
         const MWWorld::Store<ESM::GameSetting>& store = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::GameSetting>();
 
         CreatureStats& stats = ptr.getClass().getCreatureStats(ptr);