diff --git a/code/datums/records/crime.dm b/code/datums/records/crime.dm
index e16995b5514..77e3d5b1001 100644
--- a/code/datums/records/crime.dm
+++ b/code/datums/records/crime.dm
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@
 
 /// Pays off a fine and attempts to fix any weird values.
 /datum/crime/citation/proc/pay_fine(amount)
+	if(amount <= 0)
+		return FALSE
+
 	paid += amount
 	if(paid > fine)
 		paid = fine