diff --git a/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer_say.dm b/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer_say.dm
index 38fcdb494cf..7f484db735b 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer_say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/dead/observer/observer_say.dm
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 		return
 
 	message = copytext_char(sanitize(message), 1, MAX_MESSAGE_LEN)
-	if(check_emote(message, forced))
+	if(message[1] == "*" && check_emote(message, forced))
 		return
 
 	. = say_dead(message)