diff --git a/crates/bevy_state/src/state_scoped.rs b/crates/bevy_state/src/state_scoped.rs
index 1d224da1c13ff..ea2acdcf816db 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_state/src/state_scoped.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_state/src/state_scoped.rs
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ where
 
 /// Despawns entities marked with [`DespawnOnExit<S>`] when their state no
 /// longer matches the world state.
+///
+/// If the entity has already been despawned no warning will be emitted.
 pub fn despawn_entities_on_exit_state<S: States>(
     mut commands: Commands,
     mut transitions: MessageReader<StateTransitionEvent<S>>,
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ pub fn despawn_entities_on_exit_state<S: States>(
     };
     for (entity, binding) in &query {
         if binding.0 == *exited {
-            commands.entity(entity).despawn();
+            commands.entity(entity).try_despawn();
         }
     }
 }
@@ -133,6 +135,8 @@ pub struct DespawnOnEnter<S: States>(pub S);
 
 /// Despawns entities marked with [`DespawnOnEnter<S>`] when their state
 /// matches the world state.
+///
+/// If the entity has already been despawned no warning will be emitted.
 pub fn despawn_entities_on_enter_state<S: States>(
     mut commands: Commands,
     mut transitions: MessageReader<StateTransitionEvent<S>>,
@@ -152,7 +156,7 @@ pub fn despawn_entities_on_enter_state<S: States>(
     };
     for (entity, binding) in &query {
         if binding.0 == *entered {
-            commands.entity(entity).despawn();
+            commands.entity(entity).try_despawn();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/ecs/state_scoped.rs b/examples/ecs/state_scoped.rs
index 8fd4f0a6196fd..ad8d2fac38fbb 100644
--- a/examples/ecs/state_scoped.rs
+++ b/examples/ecs/state_scoped.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 //!
 //! This pattern is useful for managing menus, levels, or other state-specific
 //! content that should only exist during certain states.
+//!
+//! If the entity was already despawned then no error will be logged. This means
+//! that you don't have to worry about duplicate [`DespawnOnExit`] and
+//! [`DespawnOnEnter`] components deep in your hierarchy.
 
 use bevy::prelude::*;
 
@@ -46,6 +50,7 @@ fn on_a_enter(mut commands: Commands) {
             left: px(0),
             ..default()
         },
+        (children![DespawnOnExit(GameState::A)]),
     ));
 }
 
@@ -65,6 +70,10 @@ fn on_a_exit(mut commands: Commands) {
             left: px(500),
             ..default()
         },
+        // You can apply this even when the parent has a state scoped component.
+        // It is unnecessary but in complex hierarchies it saves you from having to
+        // mentally track which components are found at the top level.
+        (children![DespawnOnEnter(GameState::A)]),
     ));
 }
 
@@ -84,6 +93,7 @@ fn on_b_enter(mut commands: Commands) {
             left: px(0),
             ..default()
         },
+        (children![DespawnOnExit(GameState::B)]),
     ));
 }
 
@@ -103,6 +113,7 @@ fn on_b_exit(mut commands: Commands) {
             left: px(500),
             ..default()
         },
+        (children![DespawnOnEnter(GameState::B)]),
     ));
 }