diff --git a/lib/plugins/statemachine.js b/lib/plugins/statemachine.js
index 1737513..e8eeabf 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/statemachine.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/statemachine.js
@@ -78,8 +78,9 @@ function init(smName = "dummy", webserver) {
         actions: {
             // action implementation
             lookAtPlayerOnce: (context, event) => {
-                const player = context?.player || bot.nearestEntity(entity => entity.type === 'player');
-                if (player.position || player.entity) {
+                const player = context?.player && (context?.player?.isValid || context?.player?.entity?.isValid)
+                    || bot.nearestEntity(entity => entity.type === 'player');
+                if (player?.position || player?.entity) {
                     context.player = player;
                     bot.lookAt((player.entity || player).position.offset(0, 1, 0));
                 }
@@ -87,9 +88,10 @@ function init(smName = "dummy", webserver) {
         },
         activities: {
             lookAtPlayer: (context, event) => {
-                const player = context?.player || bot.nearestEntity(entity => entity.type === 'player');
-                // TODO  check every event?
-                if (player.position || player.entity) {
+                const player = (context?.player?.isValid || context?.player?.entity?.isValid) && context?.player
+                    || bot.nearestEntity(entity => entity.type === 'player' && entity.isValid);
+                // TODO check pos every event?
+                if (player?.position || player?.entity) {
                     context.player = player;
                     function looks() {
                         bot.lookAt((player.entity || player).position.offset(0, 1, 0));
@@ -97,6 +99,11 @@ function init(smName = "dummy", webserver) {
                     bot.on("time", looks);
                     return () => bot.off("time", looks);
                 }
+                else {
+                    quiet || bot.chat("look: no valid players");
+                    // TODO use xstate logger
+                    context.debug && console.log("sm: no valid player", this, context, player);
+                }
             }
         },
         delays: {