diff --git a/src/writerecord.js b/src/writerecord.js
index cd959aa..5585e2b 100644
--- a/src/writerecord.js
+++ b/src/writerecord.js
@@ -306,10 +306,19 @@ function pickTopPropertyRecord(property) {
                 if(!(anchoredMachineId in candidates))
                     continue;
 
-                const candidateMachineIndex = candidates[anchoredMachineId].machineIndex;
-                const ourAnchor = prop.anchors[anchoredMachineId];
+                const candidateRecord = candidates[anchoredMachineId];
 
-                if(candidateMachineIndex <= ourAnchor) {
+                const candidateMachineIndex = candidateRecord.machineIndex;
+                const ourAnchorIndex = prop.anchors[anchoredMachineId];
+
+                if(candidateMachineIndex === ourAnchorIndex && prop.machineId in candidateRecord.anchors) {
+                    if(prop.machineIndex === candidateRecord.anchors[prop.machineId]) {
+                        //mutual anchor condition. Shouldn't be possible and yet here we are!
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if(candidateMachineIndex <= ourAnchorIndex) {
                     delete candidates[anchoredMachineId];
                 }
             }