diff --git a/code/modules/research/machinery/_production.dm b/code/modules/research/machinery/_production.dm
index cc6a45a5f1f..16ccedaf778 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/machinery/_production.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/machinery/_production.dm
@@ -384,11 +384,14 @@
 	if(!directly_use_energy(charge_per_item)) // provide the wait time until lathe is ready
 		var/area/my_area = get_area(src)
 		var/obj/machinery/power/apc/my_apc = my_area.apc
-		var/charging_wait = my_apc.time_to_charge(charge_per_item)
-		if(!isnull(charging_wait))
-			say("Unable to continue production, APC overload. Wait [DisplayTimeText(charging_wait, round_seconds_to = 1)] and try again.")
+		if(!QDELETED(my_apc))
+			var/charging_wait = my_apc.time_to_charge(charge_per_item)
+			if(!isnull(charging_wait))
+				say("Unable to continue production, APC overload. Wait [DisplayTimeText(charging_wait, round_seconds_to = 1)] and try again.")
+			else
+				say("Unable to continue production, power grid overload.")
 		else
-			say("Unable to continue production, power grid overload.")
+			say("Unable to continue production, no APC in area.")
 		finalize_build()
 		return