diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/CityInfo.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/CityInfo.kt
index e1e530b4fe..15d6472ec2 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/CityInfo.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/city/CityInfo.kt
@@ -383,6 +383,12 @@ class CityInfo {
     fun destroyCity() {
         for (airUnit in getCenterTile().airUnits.toList()) airUnit.destroy() //Destroy planes stationed in city
 
+        // The relinquish ownership MUST come before removing the city,
+        // because it updates the city stats which assumes there is a capital, so if you remove the capital it crashes
+        getTiles().forEach { expansion.relinquishOwnership(it) }
+        civInfo.cities = civInfo.cities.toMutableList().apply { remove(this@CityInfo) }
+        getCenterTile().improvement = "City ruins"
+
         // Edge case! What if a water unit is in a city, and you raze the city?
         // Well, the water unit has to return to the water!
         for (unit in getCenterTile().getUnits()) {
@@ -390,12 +396,6 @@ class CityInfo {
                 unit.movement.teleportToClosestMoveableTile()
         }
 
-        // The relinquish ownership MUST come before removing the city,
-        // because it updates the city stats which assumes there is a capital, so if you remove the capital it crashes
-        getTiles().forEach { expansion.relinquishOwnership(it) }
-        civInfo.cities = civInfo.cities.toMutableList().apply { remove(this@CityInfo) }
-        getCenterTile().improvement = "City ruins"
-
         if (isCapital() && civInfo.cities.isNotEmpty()) { // Move the capital if destroyed (by a nuke or by razing)
             civInfo.cities.first().cityConstructions.addBuilding(capitalCityIndicator())
         }