diff --git a/doc/CHANGES.md b/doc/CHANGES.md
index d56427792..70cd1aae2 100644
--- a/doc/CHANGES.md
+++ b/doc/CHANGES.md
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ Change log
 <!-- END doctoc generated TOC please keep comment here to allow auto update -->
 ## 12.5.0-dev (TBD)
 * feat: [#3250](https://github.com/gridstack/gridstack.js/pull/3250) full RTL support - thank you [Daniel Cohen Gindi](https://github.com/danielgindi)
+* fix: [#3261](https://github.com/gridstack/gridstack.js/pull/3261) prepareDragDrop() returns for disable after deletion
 
 ## 12.5.0 (2026-04-05)
 * fix: [#3237](https://github.com/gridstack/gridstack.js/pull/3237) updateOptions() fixes for columnOpts, maxRow. load() not cloning
diff --git a/src/gridstack.ts b/src/gridstack.ts
index a095845e7..f5ce1b1b4 100644
--- a/src/gridstack.ts
+++ b/src/gridstack.ts
@@ -2723,8 +2723,10 @@ export class GridStack {
         this._removeDD(el); // nukes everything instead of just disable, will add some styles back next
         delete node._initDD;
       }
-      if (disable) el.classList.add('ui-draggable-disabled', 'ui-resizable-disabled'); // add styles one might depend on #1435
-      if (!force) return this;
+      if (disable) {
+        el.classList.add('ui-draggable-disabled', 'ui-resizable-disabled'); // add styles one might depend on #1435
+        return this;
+      }
     }
 
     if (!node._initDD) {