diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/layout/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/layout/mod.rs
index 43d767acde..154b85cb5e 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/layout/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/layout/mod.rs
@@ -190,9 +190,6 @@ pub fn ui_layout_system(
     }
     scale_factor_events.clear();
 
-    // clean up removed nodes
-    ui_surface.remove_entities(removed_components.removed_nodes.read());
-
     // clean up removed cameras
     ui_surface.remove_camera_entities(removed_components.removed_cameras.read());
 
@@ -217,6 +214,9 @@ pub fn ui_layout_system(
         }
     }
 
+    // clean up removed nodes after syncing children to avoid potential panic (invalid SlotMap key used)
+    ui_surface.remove_entities(removed_components.removed_nodes.read());
+
     for (camera_id, camera) in &camera_layout_info {
         let inverse_target_scale_factor = camera.scale_factor.recip();