diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/EffectSync.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/EffectSync.java
index 7dd7f26a..4c379d1a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/EffectSync.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/EffectSync.java
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public class EffectSync implements SpellContainer {
 
     private Stream<Spell> read(boolean synchronize, boolean sendUpdate) {
         if (synchronize && spells.fromNbt(owner.getEntity().getDataTracker().get(param)) && sendUpdate) {
-            write();
+            owner.getEntity().getDataTracker().set(param, spells.toNbt());
         }
 
         return spells.getReferences();
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReference.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReference.java
index 6203b101..cb1a42d3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReference.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReference.java
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import net.minecraft.nbt.NbtCompound;
 public interface NetworkedReference<T> {
     Optional<T> getReference();
 
-    Optional<T> updateReference(@Nullable T newValue);
+    void updateReference(@Nullable T newValue);
 
     boolean fromNbt(NbtCompound comp);
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReferenceSet.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReferenceSet.java
index c7a32576..43dfca27 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReferenceSet.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/NetworkedReferenceSet.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ public class NetworkedReferenceSet<T> {
     private final Supplier<NetworkedReference<T>> factory;
 
     private boolean dirty;
+    private boolean reading;
 
     public NetworkedReferenceSet(Function<T, UUID> uuidConverter, Supplier<NetworkedReference<T>> factory) {
         this.uuidConverter = uuidConverter;
@@ -78,24 +79,31 @@ public class NetworkedReferenceSet<T> {
     }
 
     public boolean fromNbt(NbtCompound comp) {
+        if (reading) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        reading = true;
+        try {
+            List<UUID> incoming = new ArrayList<>();
+            comp.getList("keys", NbtElement.STRING_TYPE).forEach(key -> {
+                incoming.add(UUID.fromString(key.asString()));
+            });
 
-        List<UUID> incoming = new ArrayList<>();
-        comp.getList("keys", NbtElement.STRING_TYPE).forEach(key -> {
-            incoming.add(UUID.fromString(key.asString()));
-        });
+            ids.stream().filter(id -> !incoming.contains(id)).toList().forEach(this::removeReference);
 
-        ids.stream().filter(id -> !incoming.contains(id)).toList().forEach(this::removeReference);
-
-        boolean[] send = new boolean[1];
-        incoming.forEach(kept -> {
-            NetworkedReference<T> i = addReference(kept);
-            send[0] |= i.fromNbt(comp.getCompound(kept.toString()));
-            if (i.getReference().isEmpty()) {
-                removeReference(kept);
-            }
-        });
-        dirty = false;
-        return send[0];
+            boolean[] send = new boolean[1];
+            incoming.forEach(key -> {
+                NetworkedReference<T> i = addReference(key);
+                send[0] |= i.fromNbt(comp.getCompound(key.toString()));
+                if (i.getReference().isEmpty()) {
+                    removeReference(key);
+                }
+            });
+            dirty = send[0];
+            return send[0];
+        } finally {
+            reading = false;
+        }
     }
 
     public NbtCompound toNbt() {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/SpellNetworkedReference.java b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/SpellNetworkedReference.java
index f957c9b6..605959fc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/SpellNetworkedReference.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/minelittlepony/unicopia/network/datasync/SpellNetworkedReference.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public class SpellNetworkedReference<T extends Spell> implements NetworkedRefere
     }
 
     private boolean mustDelete(@Nullable NbtCompound comp) {
-        return (comp == null || !comp.contains("effect_id") || !comp.contains("uuid")) && currentValue.isPresent();
+        return comp == null || !comp.contains("effect_id") || !comp.contains("uuid");
     }
 
     private boolean mustReplace(NbtCompound comp) {
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public class SpellNetworkedReference<T extends Spell> implements NetworkedRefere
     }
 
     @Override
-    public Optional<T> updateReference(@Nullable T newValue) {
+    public void updateReference(@Nullable T newValue) {
         newValue = newValue == null || newValue.isDead() ? null : newValue;
 
         @Nullable
@@ -65,8 +65,6 @@ public class SpellNetworkedReference<T extends Spell> implements NetworkedRefere
                 oldValue.onDestroyed(owner);
             }
         }
-
-        return currentValue;
     }
 
     @Override