diff --git a/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/BlendTree.cpp b/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/BlendTree.cpp
index 02d286a1d0..3eb4aad119 100644
--- a/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/BlendTree.cpp
+++ b/Gems/EMotionFX/Code/EMotionFX/Source/BlendTree.cpp
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ namespace EMotionFX
 
         if (GetFinalNode() == nodeToRemove)
         {
-            SetFinalNodeId(AnimGraphNodeId::InvalidId);
+            m_finalNodeId = AnimGraphNodeId::InvalidId;
+            m_finalNode = nullptr;
         }
 
         // call it for all children