diff --git a/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js b/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js
index bd88327b7f..d9593ff52a 100644
--- a/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js
+++ b/src/components/views/elements/AppTile.js
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
         // if it's not remaining on screen, get rid of the PersistedElement container
         if (!ActiveWidgetStore.getWidgetPersistence(this.props.id)) {
             ActiveWidgetStore.destroyPersistentWidget();
+            const PersistedElement = sdk.getComponent("elements.PersistedElement");
+            PersistedElement.destroyElement(this._persistKey);
         }
     }
 
@@ -437,6 +439,7 @@ export default class AppTile extends React.Component {
 
         // Force the widget to be non-persistent
         ActiveWidgetStore.destroyPersistentWidget();
+        PersistedElement.destroyElement(this._persistKey);
     }
 
     formatAppTileName() {
diff --git a/src/stores/ActiveWidgetStore.js b/src/stores/ActiveWidgetStore.js
index cc27febaf9..fe83260cde 100644
--- a/src/stores/ActiveWidgetStore.js
+++ b/src/stores/ActiveWidgetStore.js
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ class ActiveWidgetStore extends EventEmitter {
     destroyPersistentWidget() {
         const toDeleteId = this._persistentWidgetId;
 
-        const PersistedElement = sdk.getComponent("elements.PersistedElement");
-        PersistedElement.destroyElement('widget_' + toDeleteId);
         this.setWidgetPersistence(toDeleteId, false);
         this.delWidgetMessaging(toDeleteId);
         this.delWidgetCapabilities(toDeleteId);