diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/typeids.dm b/code/__DEFINES/typeids.dm
index 7c69dd29de3..eaf28bd1758 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/typeids.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/typeids.dm
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #define TYPEID_NORMAL_LIST "f"
 //helper macros
 #define GET_TYPEID(ref) ( ( (length(ref) <= 10) ? "TYPEID_NULL" : copytext(ref, 4, -7) ) )
-#define IS_NORMAL_LIST(L) (GET_TYPEID(text_ref(L)) == TYPEID_NORMAL_LIST)
+// Only allowed raw ref, since this is for lists explicitly and they will get no use from it
+// Also it tends to be used in a hot context so let's be nice yes?
+#define IS_NORMAL_LIST(L) (GET_TYPEID("\ref[L]") == TYPEID_NORMAL_LIST)