diff --git a/app/models/alchemy/node.rb b/app/models/alchemy/node.rb
index 88fe526dcb..370c77475c 100644
--- a/app/models/alchemy/node.rb
+++ b/app/models/alchemy/node.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ module Alchemy
   class Node < BaseRecord
     VALID_URL_REGEX = /\A(\/|\D[a-z\+\d\.\-]+:)/
 
+    before_destroy :check_if_related_essence_nodes_present
+
     acts_as_nested_set scope: "language_id", touch: true
     stampable stamper_class_name: Alchemy.user_class_name
 
@@ -14,7 +16,6 @@ class Node < BaseRecord
 
     has_many :essence_nodes, class_name: "Alchemy::EssenceNode", foreign_key: :node_id, inverse_of: :ingredient_association
 
-    before_destroy :check_if_related_essence_nodes_present
 
     validates :name, presence: true, if: -> { page.nil? }
     validates :url, format: { with: VALID_URL_REGEX }, unless: -> { url.nil? }
@@ -79,8 +80,9 @@ def view_folder_name
     end
 
     def check_if_related_essence_nodes_present
-      if essence_nodes.any?
-        errors.add(:base, :essence_nodes_present, page_names: essence_nodes.map(&:page).map(&:name).to_sentence)
+      dependent_essence_nodes = self_and_descendants.flat_map(&:essence_nodes)
+      if dependent_essence_nodes.any?
+        errors.add(:base, :essence_nodes_present, page_names: dependent_essence_nodes.map(&:page).map(&:name).to_sentence)
         throw(:abort)
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/models/alchemy/node_spec.rb b/spec/models/alchemy/node_spec.rb
index a30c75dd85..defceb870e 100644
--- a/spec/models/alchemy/node_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/alchemy/node_spec.rb
@@ -152,6 +152,16 @@ module Alchemy
         expect(node).not_to be_destroyed
         expect(node.errors.full_messages).to eq(["This menu item is in use inside an Alchemy element on the following pages: #{page.name}."])
       end
+
+      context "if there are essence nodes present on a child node" do
+        let!(:parent_node) { create(:alchemy_node, children: [node]) }
+
+        it "does not destroy the node and children either but adds an error" do
+          parent_node.destroy
+          expect(parent_node).not_to be_destroyed
+          expect(parent_node.errors.full_messages).to eq(["This menu item is in use inside an Alchemy element on the following pages: #{page.name}."])
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 end