diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm b/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm
index 11cf4f72cba..0937affaa58 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/crayons.dm
@@ -300,7 +300,6 @@
 
 	if(length(text_buffer))
 		drawing = copytext(text_buffer,1,2)
-		text_buffer = copytext(text_buffer,2)
 
 	if(actually_paints)
 		if(gang_mode)
@@ -315,6 +314,9 @@
 	user << "<span class='notice'>You finish \
 		[instant ? "spraying" : "drawing"] \the [temp].</span>"
 
+	if(length(text_buffer))
+		text_buffer = copytext(text_buffer,2)
+
 	if(post_noise)
 		audible_message("<span class='notice'>You hear spraying.</span>")
 		playsound(user.loc, 'sound/effects/spray.ogg', 5, 1, 5)