diff --git a/booking.studygroups.inc b/booking.studygroups.inc
index facf43c..7b4cb6b 100644
--- a/booking.studygroups.inc
+++ b/booking.studygroups.inc
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ function _booking_studygroups_update_preallocate($group, $group_mapping, &$sessi
 				}
 						
 				//make sure the leader/helper's partner gets updated now, otherwise they could still end up in different groups
-				if ($spouse_id > 0) {					
+				if ($spouse_id > 0 && $working_list[$spouse_id]->booking_status == 1) {					
 					//also mark their spouse as allocated to this group
 					$calculation_messages[] = t('Spouse with id !id assigned to session !session (currently with !num people).', 
 						array('!id' => $spouse_id, '!session' => $person->booking_session_id,