diff --git a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkClient.cs b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkClient.cs
index ae09f5f7d..060ec9d7b 100644
--- a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkClient.cs
+++ b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkClient.cs
@@ -1144,21 +1144,6 @@ static NetworkIdentity GetAndRemoveSceneObject(ulong sceneId)
             return null;
         }
 
-        // Checks if identity is not spawned yet, not hidden and has sceneId
-        // TODO merge with ValidateSceneObject on server
-        static bool IsSceneObject(NetworkIdentity identity)
-        {
-            // not spawned yet, not hidden, etc.?
-
-            // need to ensure it's not active yet because
-            // PrepareToSpawnSceneObjects may be called multiple times in case
-            // the ObjectSpawnStarted message is received multiple times.
-            return !identity.gameObject.activeSelf &&
-                   identity.gameObject.hideFlags != HideFlags.NotEditable &&
-                   identity.gameObject.hideFlags != HideFlags.HideAndDontSave &&
-                   identity.sceneId != 0;
-        }
-
         /// <summary>Call this after loading/unloading a scene in the client after connection to register the spawnable objects</summary>
         public static void PrepareToSpawnSceneObjects()
         {
@@ -1170,7 +1155,11 @@ public static void PrepareToSpawnSceneObjects()
             foreach (NetworkIdentity identity in allIdentities)
             {
                 // add all unspawned NetworkIdentities to spawnable objects
-                if (IsSceneObject(identity))
+                // need to ensure it's not active yet because
+                // PrepareToSpawnSceneObjects may be called multiple times in case
+                // the ObjectSpawnStarted message is received multiple times.
+                if (Utils.IsSceneObject(identity) &&
+                    !identity.gameObject.activeSelf)
                 {
                     if (spawnableObjects.TryGetValue(identity.sceneId, out NetworkIdentity existingIdentity))
                     {
diff --git a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs
index c909105a2..2ad9385cb 100644
--- a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs
+++ b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs
@@ -1140,24 +1140,6 @@ public static void Spawn(GameObject obj, Guid assetId, NetworkConnection ownerCo
             SpawnObject(obj, ownerConnection);
         }
 
-        // TODO merge with ConsiderForSpawning on client
-        internal static bool IsSceneObject(NetworkIdentity identity)
-        {
-            if (identity.gameObject.hideFlags == HideFlags.NotEditable ||
-                identity.gameObject.hideFlags == HideFlags.HideAndDontSave)
-                return false;
-
-#if UNITY_EDITOR
-            // this never seems to trigger.
-            // even if a prefab is dragged into the scene.
-            if (UnityEditor.EditorUtility.IsPersistent(identity.gameObject))
-                return false;
-#endif
-
-            // If not a scene object
-            return identity.sceneId != 0;
-        }
-
         /// <summary>Spawns NetworkIdentities in the scene on the server.</summary>
         // NetworkIdentity objects in a scene are disabled by default. Calling
         // SpawnObjects() causes these scene objects to be enabled and spawned.
@@ -1173,7 +1155,7 @@ public static bool SpawnObjects()
             // first pass: activate all scene objects
             foreach (NetworkIdentity identity in identities)
             {
-                if (IsSceneObject(identity))
+                if (Utils.IsSceneObject(identity))
                 {
                     // Debug.Log($"SpawnObjects sceneId:{identity.sceneId:X} name:{identity.gameObject.name}");
                     identity.gameObject.SetActive(true);
@@ -1193,7 +1175,7 @@ public static bool SpawnObjects()
             // second pass: spawn all scene objects
             foreach (NetworkIdentity identity in identities)
             {
-                if (IsSceneObject(identity))
+                if (Utils.IsSceneObject(identity))
                     // pass connection so that authority is not lost when server loads a scene
                     // https://github.com/vis2k/Mirror/pull/2987
                     Spawn(identity.gameObject, identity.connectionToClient);
diff --git a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/Utils.cs b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/Utils.cs
index d39ed98fc..570a45ef4 100644
--- a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/Utils.cs
+++ b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/Utils.cs
@@ -51,6 +51,22 @@ public static bool IsPrefab(GameObject obj)
 #endif
         }
 
+        // simplified IsSceneObject check from Mirror II
+        public static bool IsSceneObject(NetworkIdentity identity)
+        {
+            // original UNET / Mirror still had the IsPersistent check.
+            // it never fires though. even for Prefabs dragged to the Scene.
+            // (see Scene Objects example scene.)
+            // #if UNITY_EDITOR
+            //             if (UnityEditor.EditorUtility.IsPersistent(identity.gameObject))
+            //                 return false;
+            // #endif
+
+            return identity.gameObject.hideFlags != HideFlags.NotEditable &&
+                identity.gameObject.hideFlags != HideFlags.HideAndDontSave &&
+                identity.sceneId != 0;
+        }
+
         public static bool IsSceneObjectWithPrefabParent(GameObject gameObject, out GameObject prefab)
         {
             prefab = null;
diff --git a/Assets/Mirror/Tests/Editor/NetworkServerTest.cs b/Assets/Mirror/Tests/Editor/NetworkServerTest.cs
index ba2bdeaf1..83119a976 100644
--- a/Assets/Mirror/Tests/Editor/NetworkServerTest.cs
+++ b/Assets/Mirror/Tests/Editor/NetworkServerTest.cs
@@ -1032,18 +1032,18 @@ public void IsSceneObject()
             identity.sceneId = 42;
 
             // should be valid as long as it has a sceneId
-            Assert.That(NetworkServer.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.True);
+            Assert.That(Utils.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.True);
 
             // shouldn't be valid with 0 sceneID
             identity.sceneId = 0;
-            Assert.That(NetworkServer.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.False);
+            Assert.That(Utils.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.False);
             identity.sceneId = 42;
 
             // shouldn't be valid for certain hide flags
             go.hideFlags = HideFlags.NotEditable;
-            Assert.That(NetworkServer.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.False);
+            Assert.That(Utils.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.False);
             go.hideFlags = HideFlags.HideAndDontSave;
-            Assert.That(NetworkServer.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.False);
+            Assert.That(Utils.IsSceneObject(identity), Is.False);
         }
 
         [Test]