diff --git a/code/game/turfs/open/_open.dm b/code/game/turfs/open/_open.dm
index 2dd779a7f1f..78af79d750f 100644
--- a/code/game/turfs/open/_open.dm
+++ b/code/game/turfs/open/_open.dm
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@
 	if(!destination_z || !destination_x || !destination_y || arrived.pulledby || arrived.currently_z_moving)
 		return
 
+	if(SSatoms.initialized == INITIALIZATION_INNEW_MAPLOAD) // we don't want to be transitioning atoms to another z-level while we are still in mapload
+		return
+
 	var/tx = destination_x
 	var/ty = destination_y
 	var/turf/DT = locate(tx, ty, destination_z)