diff --git a/src/main/java/com/simibubi/create/content/equipment/armor/BacktankBlock.java b/src/main/java/com/simibubi/create/content/equipment/armor/BacktankBlock.java
index aa07e001f..59ca29710 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/simibubi/create/content/equipment/armor/BacktankBlock.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/simibubi/create/content/equipment/armor/BacktankBlock.java
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ public class BacktankBlock extends HorizontalKineticBlock
 		ItemStack stack = new ItemStack(item);
 		Optional<BacktankBlockEntity> blockEntityOptional = getBlockEntityOptional(blockGetter, pos);
 
-		CompoundTag tag = blockEntityOptional.map(BacktankBlockEntity::getFullNbt).orElse(stack.getOrCreateTag());
+		CompoundTag tag = stack.getOrCreateTag().merge(blockEntityOptional.map(BacktankBlockEntity::getFullNbt).orElse(new CompoundTag()));
 
 		int air = blockEntityOptional.map(BacktankBlockEntity::getAirLevel)
 			.orElse(0);