diff --git a/code/modules/mob/abstract/new_player/new_player.dm b/code/modules/mob/abstract/new_player/new_player.dm
index 2ae5d082681..ee6e54a5bee 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/abstract/new_player/new_player.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/abstract/new_player/new_player.dm
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ INITIALIZE_IMMEDIATE(/mob/abstract/new_player)
 			return FALSE
 
 	var/datum/faction/faction = SSjobs.name_factions[client.prefs.faction] || SSjobs.default_faction
-	if (!(job.type in faction.allowed_role_types))
+	var/list/faction_allowed_roles = unpacklist(faction.allowed_role_types)
+	if (!(job.type in faction_allowed_roles))
 		return FALSE
 
 	if(!(client.prefs.GetPlayerAltTitle(job) in client.prefs.GetValidTitles(job))) // does age/species check for us!