diff --git a/test/unit/test_gradient.py b/test/unit/test_gradient.py
index e984394ccc..2731253093 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_gradient.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_gradient.py
@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ class TestTensorGradient(unittest.TestCase):
     np.testing.assert_allclose(x.grad.numpy(), [2.0+3.0+2*3.0])
     self.assertIs(x.grad, old_grad)
 
+  def test_gradient_through_chained_unrealized_setitem(self):
+    g1 = Tensor.zeros(4).contiguous()
+    g1[2] = Tensor(1.0)
+    g2 = Tensor.zeros(5, 4).contiguous()
+    g2[0] = g1
+    x = Tensor.randn(4, 4)
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(x.pad(((1,0),(0,0))).gradient(x, gradient=g2)[0].numpy(), np.zeros((4, 4)))
+
 class TestViewGradient(unittest.TestCase):
   def test_expand(self):
     x = Tensor.randn(5,2)
diff --git a/tinygrad/schedule/rangeify.py b/tinygrad/schedule/rangeify.py
index 601f9dfab8..2ddde4ecff 100644
--- a/tinygrad/schedule/rangeify.py
+++ b/tinygrad/schedule/rangeify.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field, replace
 import itertools
-from tinygrad.dtype import dtypes, PtrDType, ImageDType, AddrSpace
+from tinygrad.dtype import dtypes, PtrDType, ImageDType, AddrSpace, Invalid
 from tinygrad.uop.ops import PatternMatcher, UPat, Ops, UOp, resolve, GroupOp, _substitute, KernelInfo
 from tinygrad.uop.ops import graph_rewrite, sint, AxisType, BottomUpGate, profile_matches, should_resolve_call
 from tinygrad.uop.symbolic import symbolic
@@ -229,8 +229,9 @@ def remove_bufferize(src:UOp, buf:UOp, idx:UOp):
 
   # if it makes it here, the bufferize is removed
   # this is the ranges replaced
-  # NOTE: if buf src is a const, we don't replace it
-  return src.substitute({k:v for k,v in zip(buf.src[1:], idx.src[1:]) if k.op is not Ops.CONST}, extra_pm=pm_gate_substitute)
+  # NOTE: if buf src is a const, we don't replace it. if idx is Invalid (dead load), don't replace it either
+  replaced = {k:v for k,v in zip(buf.src[1:], idx.src[1:]) if k.op is not Ops.CONST and not (v.op is Ops.CONST and v.arg is Invalid)}
+  return src.substitute(replaced, extra_pm=pm_gate_substitute)
 
 def remove_noop_bufferize(idx,b2):
   if idx.src[1:] != b2.src[1:] or idx.src[0].op is Ops.BUFFER_VIEW: return None