diff --git a/src/roles/madscientist.py b/src/roles/madscientist.py
index 03b4d15..ba0302a 100644
--- a/src/roles/madscientist.py
+++ b/src/roles/madscientist.py
@@ -113,9 +113,9 @@ def on_del_player(evt, cli, var, nick, mainrole, allroles, death_triggers):
             debuglog(nick, "(mad scientist) KILL: {0} ({1}) - {2} ({3})".format(target1, get_role(target1.nick), target2, get_role(target2.nick)))
             # here we DO want to tell that the other one is dying already so chained deaths don't mess things up
             deadlist1 = evt.params.deadlist[:]
-            deadlist1.append(target2)
+            deadlist1.append(target2.nick)
             deadlist2 = evt.params.deadlist[:]
-            deadlist2.append(target1)
+            deadlist2.append(target1.nick)
             evt.params.del_player(cli, target1.nick, True, end_game=False, killer_role="mad scientist", deadlist=deadlist1, original=evt.params.original, ismain=False)
             evt.params.del_player(cli, target2.nick, True, end_game=False, killer_role="mad scientist", deadlist=deadlist2, original=evt.params.original, ismain=False)
             pl = evt.params.refresh_pl(pl)