diff --git a/src/MarkerCluster.js b/src/MarkerCluster.js
index 5763f3ae9..5eb9c42dc 100644
--- a/src/MarkerCluster.js
+++ b/src/MarkerCluster.js
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ L.MarkerCluster = L.Marker.extend({
 
 	_removeChildMarker: function (marker) {
 		var markers = this._markers,
-		    group = this._group, i;
+			i;
 
 		for (i = markers.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
 			if (markers[i] === marker) {
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ L.MarkerCluster = L.Marker.extend({
 				while (p) {
 					p._childCount--;
 					p._recalculateBounds();
+					p._updateIcon();
 					p = p._parent;
 				}
 				return true;
diff --git a/src/MarkerClusterGroup.js b/src/MarkerClusterGroup.js
index 2fabc920b..17627620d 100644
--- a/src/MarkerClusterGroup.js
+++ b/src/MarkerClusterGroup.js
@@ -103,12 +103,7 @@ L.MarkerClusterGroup = L.FeatureGroup.extend({
 			this._unspiderfyLayer(layer);
 		}
 
-		if (!this._topClusterLevel._recursivelyRemoveLayer(layer)) {
-			//If this happens you are doing something bad
-			//If you've moved a marker that is in the cluster then that would be why
-			//console.log('failed to remove');
-			var a = 0;
-		}
+		layer.__cluster._removeChildMarker(layer);
 
 		return this;
 	},