diff --git a/mods/bg_tree/grow_leaves.lua b/mods/bg_tree/grow_leaves.lua
index 67dec98..e6159c6 100644
--- a/mods/bg_tree/grow_leaves.lua
+++ b/mods/bg_tree/grow_leaves.lua
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ blockgame.register_increasing_abm({
 		-- this requires the API to add support for increasing ABM `action`:s to modify `data`.
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
 		local distance = meta:get_int("leaf_distance") or 1
-		if distance >= max_grow_distance then return end
+		if distance >= max_grow_distance then
+			minetest.set_node(pos, {name = leaves_alive})
+			return
+		end
 
 		local sides = blockgame.vector.get_sides_of(pos)
 		for _, target in pairs(sides) do