diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/devices/PDA/PDA.dm b/code/game/objects/items/devices/PDA/PDA.dm
index 97c698b9973..58e853b2cf4 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/devices/PDA/PDA.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/devices/PDA/PDA.dm
@@ -406,8 +406,9 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(PDAs)
 							dat += "<br><a href='byond://?src=[REF(src)];choice=SkillReward;skill=[type]'>Contact the Professional [S.title] Association</a>"
 						dat += "</li></ul>"
 			if(21)
-				if(icon_alert)
+				if(icon_alert && !istext(icon_alert))
 					cut_overlay(icon_alert)
+					icon_alert = initial(icon_alert)
 
 				dat += "<h4>[PDAIMG(mail)] SpaceMessenger V3.9.6</h4>"
 				dat += "<a href='byond://?src=[REF(src)];choice=Clear'>[PDAIMG(blank)]Clear Messages</a>"
@@ -850,7 +851,9 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(PDAs)
 		to_chat(L, "<span class='infoplain'>[icon2html(src)] <b>PDA message from [hrefstart][signal.data["name"]] ([signal.data["job"]])[hrefend], </b>[inbound_message] [reply]</span>")
 
 	update_appearance()
-	add_overlay(icon_alert)
+	if(istext(icon_alert))
+		icon_alert = mutable_appearance(initial(icon), icon_alert)
+		add_overlay(icon_alert)
 
 /obj/item/pda/proc/send_to_all(mob/living/U)
 	if (last_everyone && world.time < last_everyone + PDA_SPAM_DELAY)