diff --git a/code/game/jobs/whitelist.dm b/code/game/jobs/whitelist.dm
index a3bb1c17f0b..ba0816b76c8 100644
--- a/code/game/jobs/whitelist.dm
+++ b/code/game/jobs/whitelist.dm
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ var/list/whitelist = list()
 	if (!M || !species)
 		return 0
 
+	if (istype(species, /datum/species))
+		var/datum/species/S = species
+		species = S.name
+
 	if (lowertext(species) == "human")
 		return 1
 
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/03_body.dm b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/03_body.dm
index c241d8ba5fa..61d388072cf 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/03_body.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/03_body.dm
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ var/global/list/valid_bloodtypes = list("A+", "A-", "B+", "B-", "AB+", "AB-", "O
 	if(config.usealienwhitelist) //If we're using the whitelist, make sure to check it!
 		if(!(current_species.spawn_flags & CAN_JOIN))
 			restricted = 2
-		else if((current_species.spawn_flags & IS_WHITELISTED) && !is_alien_whitelisted(preference_mob(),current_species))
+		else if((current_species.spawn_flags & IS_WHITELISTED) && !is_alien_whitelisted(preference_mob(),current_species.name))
 			restricted = 1
 
 	if(restricted)