diff --git a/code/game/area/areas.dm b/code/game/area/areas.dm
index 27decb5d2f3..b4ab640942d 100644
--- a/code/game/area/areas.dm
+++ b/code/game/area/areas.dm
@@ -127,6 +127,11 @@
 	. = ..()
 
 /area/Initialize(mapload)
+#ifdef UNIT_TEST
+	if (!islist(ambience))
+		log_error("Area: [src.type] set list/ambience with [ambience] instead of a list. This var MUST be a list().")
+#endif
+
 	icon_state = "white"
 	color = null
 
@@ -381,7 +386,7 @@
 	L.lastarea = newarea
 
 	// Start playing ambience.
-	if(src.ambience.len && L && L.client && (L.client.prefs.sfx_toggles & ASFX_AMBIENCE) && !L.ear_deaf)
+	if(length(src.ambience) && L && L.client && (L.client.prefs.sfx_toggles & ASFX_AMBIENCE) && !L.ear_deaf)
 		play_ambience(L)
 	else
 		stop_ambience(L)
diff --git a/html/changelogs/hellfirejag-fix-away-site-ambience.yml b/html/changelogs/hellfirejag-fix-away-site-ambience.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8f1ec4d2c14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/html/changelogs/hellfirejag-fix-away-site-ambience.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+author: Hellfirejag
+delete-after: True
+changes:
+  - bugfix: "Fixed the Hiskyn Treasure Trove away site not having any ambience."
+  - rscadd: "Map Areas will now cause unit tests to fail if given invalid ambience."
diff --git a/maps/away/away_site/treasure_trove/treasure_trove_areas.dm b/maps/away/away_site/treasure_trove/treasure_trove_areas.dm
index 09d8e57e506..a63a9d188c0 100644
--- a/maps/away/away_site/treasure_trove/treasure_trove_areas.dm
+++ b/maps/away/away_site/treasure_trove/treasure_trove_areas.dm
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 	name = "Treasure Trove Beach"
 	icon_state = "yellow"
 	is_outside = OUTSIDE_YES
-	ambience = 'sound/ambience/konyang/konyang-water.ogg'
+	ambience = list('sound/ambience/konyang/konyang-water.ogg')
 	area_blurb = "You can hear the sound of waves hitting the shore. Something at the back of your mind makes you think the beauty of the area hides something darker."
 
 /area/trove/beach/landing
@@ -21,14 +21,14 @@
 	name = "Treasure Trove Ocean"
 	icon_state =  "purple"
 	is_outside = OUTSIDE_YES
-	ambience = 'sound/ambience/konyang/konyang-water.ogg'
+	ambience = list('sound/ambience/konyang/konyang-water.ogg')
 	area_blurb = "Endless blue in all directions broken by the occasional jutting rock."
 
 /area/trove/jungle
 	name = "Treasure Trove Jungle"
 	icon_state = "green"
 	is_outside = OUTSIDE_YES
-	ambience = 'sound/ambience/eeriejungle1.ogg'
+	ambience = list('sound/ambience/eeriejungle1.ogg')
 	area_blurb = "Lush foliage and the sounds of distant animals... and something larger."
 
 // ----- Interior