diff --git a/code/modules/power/apc/apc_attack.dm b/code/modules/power/apc/apc_attack.dm
index 1976c4b1acb..af922d84b91 100644
--- a/code/modules/power/apc/apc_attack.dm
+++ b/code/modules/power/apc/apc_attack.dm
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 			balloon_alert(user, "need ten lengths of cable!")
 			return
 
-		var/terminal_cable_layer = CABLE_LAYER_1
+		var/terminal_cable_layer
 		if(LAZYACCESS(params2list(params), RIGHT_CLICK))
 			var/choice = tgui_input_list(user, "Select Power Input Cable Layer", "Select Cable Layer", GLOB.cable_name_to_layer)
 			if(isnull(choice))
diff --git a/code/modules/power/apc/apc_power_proc.dm b/code/modules/power/apc/apc_power_proc.dm
index ecea1734608..b49c0ba0a74 100644
--- a/code/modules/power/apc/apc_power_proc.dm
+++ b/code/modules/power/apc/apc_power_proc.dm
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@
 	if(terminal)
 		terminal.connect_to_network()
 
-/obj/machinery/power/apc/proc/make_terminal(terminal_cable_layer)
+/obj/machinery/power/apc/proc/make_terminal(terminal_cable_layer = cable_layer)
 	// create a terminal object at the same position as original turf loc
 	// wires will attach to this
 	terminal = new/obj/machinery/power/terminal(loc)
-	terminal.cable_layer = cable_layer
+	terminal.cable_layer = terminal_cable_layer
 	terminal.setDir(dir)
 	terminal.master = src
 
diff --git a/code/modules/power/smes.dm b/code/modules/power/smes.dm
index a6e45c848f6..f6a8ddfe99c 100644
--- a/code/modules/power/smes.dm
+++ b/code/modules/power/smes.dm
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
 			to_chat(user, span_warning("You need more wires!"))
 			return
 
-		var/terminal_cable_layer = CABLE_LAYER_1
+		var/terminal_cable_layer
 		if(LAZYACCESS(params2list(params), RIGHT_CLICK))
 			var/choice = tgui_input_list(user, "Select Power Input Cable Layer", "Select Cable Layer", GLOB.cable_name_to_layer)
 			if(isnull(choice))
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
 
 // create a terminal object pointing towards the SMES
 // wires will attach to this
-/obj/machinery/power/smes/proc/make_terminal(turf/T, terminal_cable_layer)
+/obj/machinery/power/smes/proc/make_terminal(turf/T, terminal_cable_layer = cable_layer)
 	terminal = new/obj/machinery/power/terminal(T)
 	terminal.cable_layer = terminal_cable_layer
 	terminal.setDir(get_dir(T,src))