diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index db654fcc132..b17a4b9462c 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -183,7 +183,10 @@
 	//Sanitize
 	metadata		= sanitize_text(metadata, initial(metadata))
 	real_name		= reject_bad_name(real_name)
-	if(isnull(species)) species = "Human"
+
+	if(isnull(species) || !(species in whitelisted_species))
+		species = "Human"
+
 	if(isnull(language)) language = "None"
 	if(isnull(spawnpoint)) spawnpoint = "Arrivals Shuttle"
 	if(isnull(nanotrasen_relation)) nanotrasen_relation = initial(nanotrasen_relation)