diff --git a/jquery.isotope.js b/jquery.isotope.js
index c73e7ad..e429667 100644
--- a/jquery.isotope.js
+++ b/jquery.isotope.js
@@ -787,15 +787,14 @@
     // removes elements from Isotope widget
     remove: function( $content ) {
       // remove elements from Isotope instance in callback
-      var instance = this;
       var removeContent = function() {
-        instance.$allAtoms = instance.$allAtoms.not( $content );
         $content.remove();
       };
 
       if ( $content.filter( ':not(.' + this.options.hiddenClass + ')' ).length ) {
         // if any non-hidden content needs to be removed
         this.styleQueue.push({ $el: $content, style: this.options.hiddenStyle });
+        this.$allAtoms = this.$allAtoms.not( $content );
         this.$filteredAtoms = this.$filteredAtoms.not( $content );
         this._sort();
         this.reLayout( removeContent );