diff --git a/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/AnimGraphReferenceNode.cpp b/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/AnimGraphReferenceNode.cpp
index 16f192615d..00ff273187 100644
--- a/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/AnimGraphReferenceNode.cpp
+++ b/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/AnimGraphReferenceNode.cpp
@@ -642,6 +642,8 @@ namespace EMotionFX
 
     void AnimGraphReferenceNode::OnAnimGraphAssetChanged()
     {
+        AnimGraphNotificationBus::Broadcast(&AnimGraphNotificationBus::Events::OnReferenceAnimGraphAboutToBeChanged, this);
+
         ReleaseAnimGraphInstances();
 
         AnimGraphNotificationBus::Broadcast(&AnimGraphNotificationBus::Events::OnReferenceAnimGraphChanged, this);