diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index de27abe18ea..e95eb9cc1b6 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -1534,7 +1534,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 
 	var/datum/species/chosen_species
 	chosen_species = pref_species.type
-	if(!(pref_species.id in GLOB.roundstart_races) && !(pref_species.id in (CONFIG_GET(keyed_list/roundstart_no_hard_check))))
+	if(roundstart_checks && !(pref_species.id in GLOB.roundstart_races) && !(pref_species.id in (CONFIG_GET(keyed_list/roundstart_no_hard_check))))
 		chosen_species = /datum/species/human
 		pref_species = new /datum/species/human
 		save_character()