diff --git a/Assets/Mirror/Core/NetworkIdentity.cs b/Assets/Mirror/Core/NetworkIdentity.cs
index 9856769d5..17c55cde6 100644
--- a/Assets/Mirror/Core/NetworkIdentity.cs
+++ b/Assets/Mirror/Core/NetworkIdentity.cs
@@ -671,7 +671,24 @@ void OnDestroy()
 
                 // if an identity is still in .spawned, remove it too.
                 // fixes: https://github.com/MirrorNetworking/Mirror/issues/3324
-                NetworkClient.spawned.Remove(netId);
+                //
+                // however, verify that spawned[netId] is this NetworkIdentity
+                // fixes: https://github.com/MirrorNetworking/Mirror/issues/3785
+                // - server: netId=42 walks out of and back into AOI range in same frame
+                // - client frame 1:
+                //     on_destroymsg(42) -> NetworkClient.DestroyObject -> GameObject.Destroy(42) // next frame
+                //     on_spawnmsg(42) -> NetworkClient.SpawnPrefab -> Instantiate(42) -> spawned[42]=new_identity
+                // - client frame 2:
+                //     Unity destroys the old 42
+                //     NetworkIdentity.OnDestroy removes .spawned[42] which is new_identity not old_identity
+                //     new_identity becomes orphaned
+                //
+                // solution: only remove if spawned[netId] is this NetworkIdentity or null
+                if (NetworkClient.spawned.TryGetValue(netId, out NetworkIdentity entry))
+                {
+                    if (entry == this || entry == null)
+                        NetworkClient.spawned.Remove(netId);
+                }
             }
 
             // workaround for cyclid NI<->NB reference causing memory leaks