diff --git a/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/AvatarProcessor.cs b/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/AvatarProcessor.cs
index 8095adbe..f701b240 100644
--- a/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/AvatarProcessor.cs
+++ b/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/AvatarProcessor.cs
@@ -121,6 +121,22 @@ namespace nadena.dev.modular_avatar.core.editor
 
             try
             {
+                // Sometimes people like to nest one avatar in another, when transplanting clothing. To avoid issues
+                // with inconsistently determining the avatar root, we'll go ahead and remove the extra sub-avatars
+                // here.
+                foreach (Transform directChild in avatarGameObject.transform)
+                {
+                    foreach (var component in directChild.GetComponentsInChildren<VRCAvatarDescriptor>(true))
+                    {
+                        Object.DestroyImmediate(component);
+                    }
+
+                    foreach (var component in directChild.GetComponentsInChildren<PipelineSaver>(true))
+                    {
+                        Object.DestroyImmediate(component);
+                    }
+                }
+
                 new RenameParametersHook().OnPreprocessAvatar(avatarGameObject);
                 new MenuInstallHook().OnPreprocessAvatar(avatarGameObject);
                 new MergeArmatureHook().OnPreprocessAvatar(avatarGameObject);
diff --git a/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/MergeArmatureHook.cs b/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/MergeArmatureHook.cs
index 9a7c652a..035591c1 100644
--- a/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/MergeArmatureHook.cs
+++ b/Packages/nadena.dev.modular-avatar/Editor/MergeArmatureHook.cs
@@ -271,6 +271,11 @@ namespace nadena.dev.modular_avatar.core.editor
             bool zipMerge
         )
         {
+            if (src == newParent)
+            {
+                throw new Exception("[ModularAvatar] Attempted to merge an armature into itself! Aborting build...");
+            }
+
             GameObject mergedSrcBone = new GameObject(src.name + "@" + GUID.Generate());
             mergedSrcBone.transform.SetParent(src.transform.parent);
             mergedSrcBone.transform.localPosition = src.transform.localPosition;