diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem.dm
index 95c562d3c0c..885c5f89849 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem.dm
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
 		queue_node_priority = queue_node.queued_priority
 		queue_node_flags = queue_node.flags
 
-		if (queue_node_flags & SS_TICKER)
+		if (queue_node_flags & (SS_TICKER|SS_BACKGROUND) == SS_TICKER)
 			if ((SS_flags & (SS_TICKER|SS_BACKGROUND)) != SS_TICKER)
 				continue
 			if (queue_node_priority < SS_priority)