diff --git a/src/phases/pokemon-anim-phase.ts b/src/phases/pokemon-anim-phase.ts
index ad0be34af7d..eb5431cbc56 100644
--- a/src/phases/pokemon-anim-phase.ts
+++ b/src/phases/pokemon-anim-phase.ts
@@ -312,6 +312,10 @@ export class PokemonAnimPhase extends BattlePhase {
     // Note: unlike the other Commander animation, this is played through the
     // Dondozo instead of the Tatsugiri.
     const tatsugiri = this.pokemon.getAlly();
+    if (isNullOrUndefined(tatsugiri)) {
+      console.warn("Aborting COMMANDER_REMOVE anim: Tatsugiri is undefined");
+      return this.end();
+    }
 
     const tatsuSprite = this.scene.addPokemonSprite(
       tatsugiri,