diff --git a/src/AtlasLayerCombo.h b/src/AtlasLayerCombo.h
index 71b31a0..bde1897 100644
--- a/src/AtlasLayerCombo.h
+++ b/src/AtlasLayerCombo.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class AtlasLayerCombo {
         virtual void setup(const ComboIdentifier & identifier,
                            AtlasLayerComboSettings settings) = 0;
         virtual void update() = 0;
+        virtual bool hasChildren() = 0;
         virtual void careForChild(shared_ptr <Layer> layer) = 0;
         virtual void abandonChild(shared_ptr <Layer> layer) = 0;
         virtual const ComboIdentifier & getIdentifier() const = 0;
diff --git a/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.cpp b/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.cpp
index ac48336..d3878a8 100644
--- a/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.cpp
+++ b/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.cpp
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ const ComboIdentifier & GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo::getIdentifier() const {
 void GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo::setVFlip(VFlipState vFlipState){
     vFlip = vFlipState;
 }
+bool GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo::hasChildren(){
+    return layers.size() > 0;
+}
 const vector <shared_ptr <GPUFontLayer> > & GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo::getLayers(){
     return layers;
 }
diff --git a/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.h b/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.h
index dd1a9c5..16b6d36 100644
--- a/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.h
+++ b/src/GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class GPUFontAtlasLayerCombo : public AtlasLayerCombo {
         void abandonChild(shared_ptr <Layer> layer) override;
         const ComboIdentifier & getIdentifier() const override;
         void setVFlip(VFlipState vFlipState) override;
+        bool hasChildren() override;
 
         const vector <shared_ptr <GPUFontLayer> > & getLayers();
         void draw();
diff --git a/src/LayerComposition.cpp b/src/LayerComposition.cpp
index fb4bb31..ab49e5a 100644
--- a/src/LayerComposition.cpp
+++ b/src/LayerComposition.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ void LayerComposition::update(){
         if(l.second->wantsNewMom()){
             const auto momIdentifier = l.second->getMomsComboIdentifier();
             atlasLayerCombos[momIdentifier]->abandonChild(l.second);
+            if(!atlasLayerCombos[momIdentifier]->hasChildren()){
+                atlasLayerCombos.erase(momIdentifier);
+            }
             ComboIdentifier idealMom{
                 l.second->getProps().fontPath,
                 momIdentifier.type
diff --git a/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.cpp b/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.cpp
index 2742378..1d8cc09 100644
--- a/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.cpp
+++ b/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ void MsdfAtlasLayerCombo::setVFlip(VFlipState vFlipState){
     }
 }
 
+bool MsdfAtlasLayerCombo::hasChildren(){
+    return layers.size() > 0;
+}
+
 const ofImage & MsdfAtlasLayerCombo::getAtlasImage(){
     return atlas->getAtlasImage();
 }
diff --git a/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.h b/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.h
index 8b5b11d..5ee60a6 100644
--- a/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.h
+++ b/src/MsdfAtlasLayerCombo.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class MsdfAtlasLayerCombo : public AtlasLayerCombo {
         void abandonChild(shared_ptr <Layer> layer) override;
         const ComboIdentifier & getIdentifier() const override;
         void setVFlip(VFlipState vFlipState) override;
+        bool hasChildren() override;
         const ofImage & getAtlasImage();
         string getAtlasImagePath();
         shared_ptr <Layer> getLayer(); // TODO: is this used