diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/surgery_step.dm b/code/modules/surgery/surgery_step.dm
index 5172900fcc3..4058348b179 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/surgery_step.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/surgery_step.dm
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@
 		return
 	if(target.stat >= UNCONSCIOUS)
 		var/datum/mood_event/surgery/target_mood_event = target.mob_mood.mood_events[SURGERY_MOOD_CATEGORY]
-		if(target_mood_event?.surgery_completed) //don't give sleeping mobs trauma. that said, if they fell asleep mid-surgery after already getting the bad mood, lets make sure they wake up to a (hopefully) happy memory.
+		if(!target_mood_event || target_mood_event.surgery_completed) //don't give sleeping mobs trauma. that said, if they fell asleep mid-surgery after already getting the bad mood, lets make sure they wake up to a (hopefully) happy memory.
 			return
 	switch(surgery_state)
 		if(SURGERY_STATE_STARTED)