diff --git a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/CK3/Dynasties/Dynasty.cpp b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/CK3/Dynasties/Dynasty.cpp
index aef30e652..3cd4f4313 100644
--- a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/CK3/Dynasties/Dynasty.cpp
+++ b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/CK3/Dynasties/Dynasty.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ CK3::Dynasty::Dynasty(const Imperator::Family& impFamily, const mappers::Localiz
 
 	const auto& impMembers = impFamily.getMembers();
 	if (!impMembers.empty()) {
-		culture = impMembers[0].second->getCK3Character()->culture; // make head's culture the dynasty culture
+		auto firstMember = impMembers[0];
+		culture = firstMember.second->getCK3Character()->culture;  // make head's culture the dynasty culture
 	}
 	else {
 		Log(LogLevel::Warning) << "Couldn't determine culture for dynasty " << ID << ", needs manual setting!";
diff --git a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.cpp b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.cpp
index 25f8cf08c..fcd9c6431 100644
--- a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.cpp
+++ b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,13 @@ void Imperator::Families::loadFamilies(std::istream& theStream) {
 }
 
 
+void Imperator::Families::removeUnlinkedMembers() {
+	for (const auto& family : families) {
+		family.second->removeUnlinkedMembers();
+	}
+}
+
+
 void Imperator::Families::registerKeys() {
 	registerRegex(commonItems::integerRegex, [this](const std::string& theFamilyID, std::istream& theStream) {
 		const auto familyStr = commonItems::stringOfItem(theStream).getString();
diff --git a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.h b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.h
index 6dcae8172..02eee443c 100644
--- a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.h
+++ b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Families.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ class Families : commonItems::parser {
 public:
 	void loadFamilies(const std::string& thePath);
 	void loadFamilies(std::istream& theStream);
+	void removeUnlinkedMembers();
 
 	auto& operator= (const Families& obj) { this->families = obj.families; return *this; }
 
diff --git a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.cpp b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.cpp
index ad780c226..40897d380 100644
--- a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.cpp
+++ b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.cpp
@@ -22,3 +22,8 @@ void Imperator::Family::linkMember(const std::shared_ptr<Character>& newMemberPt
 	// matching ID was not found
 	Log(LogLevel::Warning) << "Family " << ID << ": cannot link " << newMemberPtr->getID() << ": not found in members!";
 }
+
+
+void Imperator::Family::removeUnlinkedMembers() {
+	std::erase_if(members, [](auto member) { return member.second == nullptr; });
+}
diff --git a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.h b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.h
index 29d0bdaa0..a692b5a36 100644
--- a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.h
+++ b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/Families/Family.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Family {
 	Family() = default;
 
 	void linkMember(const std::shared_ptr<Character>& newMemberPtr);
+	void removeUnlinkedMembers();
 
 	[[nodiscard]] auto getID() const { return ID; }
 	[[nodiscard]] const auto& getKey() const { return key; }
diff --git a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/ImperatorWorld.cpp b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/ImperatorWorld.cpp
index 14626b284..5c056c02b 100644
--- a/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/ImperatorWorld.cpp
+++ b/ImperatorToCK3/Source/Imperator/ImperatorWorld.cpp
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ Imperator::World::World(const Configuration& theConfiguration, const commonItems
 	// Link all the intertwining pointers
 	Log(LogLevel::Info) << "-- Linking Characters with Families";
 	characters.linkFamilies(families);
+	families.removeUnlinkedMembers();
 	Log(LogLevel::Info) << "-- Linking Characters with Spouses";
 	characters.linkSpouses();
 	Log(LogLevel::Info) << "-- Linking Characters with Mothers and Fathers";