diff --git a/mkdocs_semiliterate/plugin.py b/mkdocs_semiliterate/plugin.py
index f57c8e5..0049f77 100644
--- a/mkdocs_semiliterate/plugin.py
+++ b/mkdocs_semiliterate/plugin.py
@@ -375,7 +375,9 @@ terminate: '^\s*\)'
 
     # Override rather than extend so that we use Semisimple instead of simple
     # Note code must track mkdocs_simple_plugin, with the added section for
-    # the custom_dir at the bottom.
+    # the custom_dir at the bottom. Also removed a section about removing
+    # files from the docs dir if not merging; it was unclear how it was
+    # supposed to work, and it would crash whenever it triggered anyway.
     def on_files(self, files: Files, /, *,
                  config: MkDocsConfig):
         """Update files based on plugin settings."""
@@ -388,12 +390,9 @@ terminate: '^\s*\)'
             self.dirty, self.last_build_time, do_copy)
         self.last_build_time = time.time()
 
-        if not self.config["merge_docs_dir"]:
-            # If not merging, remove files that are from the docs dir
-            abs_docs_dir = os.path.abspath(config['docs_dir'])
-            for _, file in files.src_uris.items():
-                if file.abs_src_path.startswith(abs_docs_dir):
-                    files.remove(file)
+        # Code section from mkdocs_simple_plugin has been CUT FROM HERE
+        # If not merging, remove files that are from the docs dir
+        # End of CUT FROM HERE
 
         for path in self.paths:
             file = File(
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 767e47f..fae171a 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [metadata]
 name = mkdocs-semiliterate
-version = 0.8.2
+version = 0.8.3
 description = Extension of mkdocs-simple-plugin adding easy content inclusion
 long_description = file: README.md
 long_description_content_type = text/markdown