diff --git a/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.cpp b/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.cpp
index ae8051cc7e..459e66ff5d 100644
--- a/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.cpp
+++ b/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.cpp
@@ -1442,16 +1442,9 @@ void MpObjectReference::ProcessActivateNormal(
   } else if (t == espm::CONT::kType && actorActivator) {
     EnsureBaseContainerAdded(loader);
 
-    auto occupantPos = this->occupant ? this->occupant->GetPos() : NiPoint3();
-    auto occupantCellOrWorld =
-      this->occupant ? this->occupant->GetCellOrWorld() : FormDesc();
-
     constexpr float kOccupationReach = 512.f;
-    auto distanceToOccupant = (occupantPos - GetPos()).Length();
 
-    if (!this->occupant || this->occupant->IsDisabled() ||
-        distanceToOccupant > kOccupationReach ||
-        occupantCellOrWorld != GetCellOrWorld()) {
+    if (CheckIfObjectCanStartOccupyThis(activationSource, kOccupationReach)) {
       if (this->occupant) {
         this->occupant->RemoveEventSink(this->occupantDestroySink);
       }
@@ -1471,16 +1464,9 @@ void MpObjectReference::ProcessActivateNormal(
     activationSource.SendOpenContainer(GetFormId());
   } else if (t == "FURN" && actorActivator) {
 
-    auto occupantPos = this->occupant ? this->occupant->GetPos() : NiPoint3();
-    auto occupantCellOrWorld =
-      this->occupant ? this->occupant->GetCellOrWorld() : FormDesc();
-
     constexpr float kOccupationReach = 256.f;
-    auto distanceToOccupant = (occupantPos - GetPos()).Length();
 
-    if (!this->occupant || this->occupant->IsDisabled() ||
-        distanceToOccupant > kOccupationReach ||
-        occupantCellOrWorld != GetCellOrWorld()) {
+    if (CheckIfObjectCanStartOccupyThis(activationSource, kOccupationReach)) {
       if (this->occupant) {
         this->occupant->RemoveEventSink(this->occupantDestroySink);
       }
@@ -1568,6 +1554,53 @@ void MpObjectReference::ActivateChilds()
   }
 }
 
+bool MpObjectReference::CheckIfObjectCanStartOccupyThis(
+  MpObjectReference& activationSource, float occupationReach)
+{
+  if (!this->occupant) {
+    spdlog::info("MpObjectReference::ProcessActivate {:x} - no occupant "
+                 "(activationSource = {:x})",
+                 GetFormId(), activationSource.GetFormId());
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  if (this->occupant->IsDisabled()) {
+    spdlog::info("MpObjectReference::ProcessActivate {:x} - occupant is "
+                 "disabled (activationSource = {:x})",
+                 GetFormId(), activationSource.GetFormId());
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  auto& occupantPos = this->occupant->GetPos();
+  auto distanceToOccupantSqr = (occupantPos - GetPos()).SqrLength();
+  if (distanceToOccupantSqr > occupationReach * occupationReach) {
+    spdlog::info("MpObjectReference::ProcessActivate {:x} - occupant is too "
+                 "far away (activationSource = {:x})",
+                 GetFormId(), activationSource.GetFormId());
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  auto& occupantCellOrWorld = this->occupant->GetCellOrWorld();
+  if (occupantCellOrWorld != GetCellOrWorld()) {
+    spdlog::info("MpObjectReference::ProcessActivate {:x} - occupant is in "
+                 "another cell/world (activationSource = {:x})",
+                 GetFormId(), activationSource.GetFormId());
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  if (this->occupant == &activationSource) {
+    spdlog::info("MpObjectReference::ProcessActivate {:x} - occupant is "
+                 "already this object (activationSource = {:x})",
+                 GetFormId(), activationSource.GetFormId());
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  spdlog::info("MpObjectReference::ProcessActivate {:x} - occupant is "
+               "another object and is nearby (activationSource = {:x})",
+               GetFormId(), activationSource.GetFormId());
+  return false;
+}
+
 void MpObjectReference::RemoveFromGridAndUnsubscribeAll()
 {
   auto worldOrCell = GetCellOrWorld().ToFormId(GetParent()->espmFiles);
diff --git a/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.h b/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.h
index a015e6a72e..e539528d78 100644
--- a/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.h
+++ b/skymp5-server/cpp/server_guest_lib/MpObjectReference.h
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ class MpObjectReference
   void ProcessActivateNormal(MpObjectReference& activationSource);
   bool ProcessActivateSecond(MpObjectReference& activationSource);
   void ActivateChilds();
+  bool CheckIfObjectCanStartOccupyThis(MpObjectReference& activationSource,
+                                       float occupationReach);
 
   bool everSubscribedOrListened = false;
   std::unique_ptr<std::set<MpObjectReference*>> listeners;