diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api.lua
index 1e7c9168b..6cc8d3d28 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/api.lua
@@ -365,6 +365,9 @@ function mob_class:on_step(dtime)
 	if self:check_despawn(pos, dtime) then return true end
 	if self:outside_limits() then return end
 
+	-- Start: Death/damage processing
+	-- All damage needs to be undertaken at the start.
+	-- We need to exit processing if the mob dies.
 	if self:check_death_and_slow_mob() then
 		--minetest.log("action", "Mob is dying: ".. tostring(self.name))
 		-- Do we abandon out of here now?
@@ -377,9 +380,16 @@ function mob_class:on_step(dtime)
 		mcl_burning.tick(self.object, dtime, self)
 		-- mcl_burning.tick may remove object immediately
 		if not self.object:get_pos() then return end
+
+		if self:check_for_death("fire", {type = "fire"}) then
+			return true
+		end
 	end
 
+	if self:env_damage (dtime, pos) then return end
+
 	if self.state == "die" then return end
+	-- End: Death/damage processing
 
 	self:check_water_flow()
 	self:env_danger_movement_checks (dtime)
@@ -425,7 +435,6 @@ function mob_class:on_step(dtime)
 		self:mob_sound("random", true)
 	end
 
-	if self:env_damage (dtime, pos) then return end
 	if self:do_states(dtime) then return end
 
 	if not self.object:get_luaentity() then
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/physics.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/physics.lua
index 0c908b639..d4d3c836d 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/physics.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_mobs/physics.lua
@@ -462,6 +462,14 @@ function mob_class:check_for_death(cause, cmi_cause)
 	self:mob_sound("death")
 
 	local function death_handle(self)
+		if cmi_cause and cmi_cause["type"] then
+			--minetest.log("cmi_cause: " .. tostring(cmi_cause["type"]))
+		end
+		--minetest.log("cause: " .. tostring(cause))
+
+		-- TODO other env damage shouldn't drop xp
+		-- "rain", "water", "drowning", "suffocation"
+
 		-- dropped cooked item if mob died in fire or lava
 		if cause == "lava" or cause == "fire" then
 			self:item_drop(true, 0)
@@ -800,7 +808,7 @@ function mob_class:do_env_damage()
 		self.suffocation_timer = 0
 	end
 
-	return self:check_for_death("", {type = "unknown"})
+	return self:check_for_death("unknown", {type = "unknown"})
 end
 
 function mob_class:env_damage (dtime, pos)