diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/icons.dm b/code/__HELPERS/icons.dm
index 62fde60c4ed..fc192a38965 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/icons.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/icons.dm
@@ -1116,7 +1116,8 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(freon_color_matrix, list("#2E5E69", "#60A2A8", "#A1AFB1", rgb(0
 
 		if (isnull(icon_state))
 			icon_state = A.icon_state
-			if (isnull(icon_state) || A.flags_1 & HTML_USE_INITAL_ICON_1)
+			//Despite casting to atom, this code path supports mutable appearances, so let's be nice to them
+			if(isnull(icon_state) || (isatom(thing) && A.flags_1 & HTML_USE_INITAL_ICON_1))
 				icon_state = initial(A.icon_state)
 				if (isnull(dir))
 					dir = initial(A.dir)