diff --git a/activitysim/abm/models/disaggregate_accessibility.py b/activitysim/abm/models/disaggregate_accessibility.py
index 40265b798..fd79a188d 100644
--- a/activitysim/abm/models/disaggregate_accessibility.py
+++ b/activitysim/abm/models/disaggregate_accessibility.py
@@ -922,10 +922,6 @@ def compute_disaggregate_accessibility(
     for ch in list(state.get_rn_generator().channels.keys()):
         state.get_rn_generator().drop_channel(ch)
 
-    # Drop any prematurely added traceables
-    for trace in [x for x in state.tracing.traceable_tables if "proto_" not in x]:
-        state.tracing.deregister_traceable_table(trace)
-
     # # need to clear any premature tables that were added during the previous run
     for name in list(state.existing_table_status):
         if name not in tables_prior:
@@ -954,4 +950,8 @@ def compute_disaggregate_accessibility(
         )
         state.add_table(tablename, df)
 
+    # drop all proto-related tables and make way for synthetic population
+    for trace in state.tracing.traceable_tables:
+        state.tracing.deregister_traceable_table(trace)
+
     return
diff --git a/activitysim/core/workflow/tracing.py b/activitysim/core/workflow/tracing.py
index 384e10f59..580c6fad9 100644
--- a/activitysim/core/workflow/tracing.py
+++ b/activitysim/core/workflow/tracing.py
@@ -506,18 +506,19 @@ def interaction_trace_rows(self, interaction_df, choosers, sample_size=None):
 
         traceable_table_ids = self.traceable_table_ids
 
-        # Determine whether actual tables or proto_ tables for disaggregate accessibilities
-        persons_table_name = set(traceable_table_ids).intersection(
-            ["persons", "proto_persons"]
-        )
-        households_table_name = set(traceable_table_ids).intersection(
-            ["households", "proto_households"]
+        # trace proto tables if they exist, otherwise trace actual tables
+        # proto tables are used for disaggregate accessibilities and
+        # are removed from the traceable_table_ids after the accessibilities are created
+        households_table_name = (
+            "proto_households"
+            if "proto_households" in traceable_table_ids.keys()
+            else "households"
         )
 
-        assert len(persons_table_name) == 1 and len(persons_table_name) == 1
-        persons_table_name, households_table_name = (
-            persons_table_name.pop(),
-            households_table_name.pop(),
+        persons_table_name = (
+            "proto_persons"
+            if "proto_persons" in traceable_table_ids.keys()
+            else "persons"
         )
 
         if (