diff --git a/public/break_escape/js/core/game.js b/public/break_escape/js/core/game.js
index d34966b..9a955e0 100644
--- a/public/break_escape/js/core/game.js
+++ b/public/break_escape/js/core/game.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import { initializeRooms, calculateWorldBounds, calculateRoomPositions, createRoom, revealRoom, updatePlayerRoom, rooms } from './rooms.js?v=16';
 import { createPlayer, updatePlayerMovement, movePlayerToPoint, facePlayerToward, player } from './player.js?v=8';
 import { initializePathfinder } from './pathfinding.js?v=7';
-import { initializeInventory, processInitialInventoryItems } from '../systems/inventory.js?v=8';
-import { checkObjectInteractions, setGameInstance, isObjectInInteractionRange } from '../systems/interactions.js?v=28';
+import { initializeInventory, processInitialInventoryItems } from '../systems/inventory.js?v=9';
+import { checkObjectInteractions, setGameInstance, isObjectInInteractionRange } from '../systems/interactions.js?v=30';
 import { introduceScenario } from '../utils/helpers.js?v=19';
 import '../minigames/index.js?v=2';
 import SoundManager from '../systems/sound-manager.js?v=1';
diff --git a/public/break_escape/js/systems/interactions.js b/public/break_escape/js/systems/interactions.js
index edad16a..9be73a7 100644
--- a/public/break_escape/js/systems/interactions.js
+++ b/public/break_escape/js/systems/interactions.js
@@ -4,13 +4,21 @@ import { rooms } from '../core/rooms.js?v=16';
 import { handleUnlock } from './unlock-system.js';
 import { handleDoorInteraction } from './doors.js';
 import { collectFingerprint, handleBiometricScan } from './biometrics.js';
-import { addToInventory, removeFromInventory, createItemIdentifier } from './inventory.js';
+import { addToInventory, removeFromInventory, createItemIdentifier } from './inventory.js?v=9';
 import { playUISound, playGameSound } from './ui-sounds.js?v=1';
 
 let gameRef = null;
 
 export function setGameInstance(gameInstance) {
     gameRef = gameInstance;
+
+    // Immediately destroy any proximity ghost when an item is collected,
+    // regardless of whether the interaction check interval has fired yet.
+    if (window.eventDispatcher) {
+        window.eventDispatcher.on('item_removed_from_scene', ({ sprite }) => {
+            if (sprite) removeProximityGhost(sprite);
+        });
+    }
 }
 
 // Helper function to calculate interaction distance with direction-based offset
@@ -431,6 +439,17 @@ function addProximityGhost(obj) {
         });
 
         obj.proximityGhost = ghost;
+
+        // Self-cleaning: patch setVisible so the ghost is destroyed the instant
+        // the sprite is hidden (collection, any code path, async or not).
+        // We store the original so removeProximityGhost can restore it.
+        if (obj.setVisible && !obj._preGhostSetVisible) {
+            obj._preGhostSetVisible = obj.setVisible.bind(obj);
+            obj.setVisible = function(visible) {
+                obj._preGhostSetVisible(visible);
+                if (!visible) removeProximityGhost(obj);
+            };
+        }
     } catch (error) {
         console.warn('Failed to add proximity ghost:', error);
     }
@@ -441,6 +460,11 @@ function removeProximityGhost(obj) {
         obj.proximityGhost.destroy();
         delete obj.proximityGhost;
     }
+    // Restore the original setVisible so the patch doesn't linger
+    if (obj._preGhostSetVisible) {
+        obj.setVisible = obj._preGhostSetVisible;
+        delete obj._preGhostSetVisible;
+    }
 }
 
 function addInteractionIndicator(obj) {
diff --git a/public/break_escape/js/systems/inventory.js b/public/break_escape/js/systems/inventory.js
index d45a793..9b7e5dc 100644
--- a/public/break_escape/js/systems/inventory.js
+++ b/public/break_escape/js/systems/inventory.js
@@ -358,6 +358,9 @@ export async function addToInventory(sprite) {
                 sprite.proximityGhost.destroy();
                 delete sprite.proximityGhost;
             }
+            if (window.eventDispatcher) {
+                window.eventDispatcher.emit('item_removed_from_scene', { sprite });
+            }
             
             // Show notification to player
             if (window.gameAlert) {
@@ -445,6 +448,9 @@ export async function addToInventory(sprite) {
             sprite.proximityGhost.destroy();
             delete sprite.proximityGhost;
         }
+        if (window.eventDispatcher) {
+            window.eventDispatcher.emit('item_removed_from_scene', { sprite });
+        }
         
         // Special handling for keys - group them together
         if (sprite.scenarioData.type === 'key') {