diff --git a/code/modules/spells/spell_types/shapeshift.dm b/code/modules/spells/spell_types/shapeshift.dm
index b0b18b9d8f6..63c840a9b01 100644
--- a/code/modules/spells/spell_types/shapeshift.dm
+++ b/code/modules/spells/spell_types/shapeshift.dm
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 			for(var/path in possible_shapes)
 				var/mob/living/simple_animal/A = path
 				animal_list[initial(A.name)] = path
-			var/new_shapeshift_type = input(M, "Choose Your Animal Form!", "It's Morphing Time!", null) as anything in animal_list
+			var/new_shapeshift_type = input(M, "Choose Your Animal Form!", "It's Morphing Time!", null) as null|anything in animal_list
 			if(shapeshift_type)
 				return
 			shapeshift_type = new_shapeshift_type