diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_mob/signals_mob_spawner.dm b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_mob/signals_mob_spawner.dm
index 6ff8b1e8d61..2e1b157ec11 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_mob/signals_mob_spawner.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/dcs/signals/signals_mob/signals_mob_spawner.dm
@@ -2,5 +2,8 @@
 /// called when a spawner spawns a mob
 #define COMSIG_SPAWNER_SPAWNED "spawner_spawned"
 
+/// Called when a spawner spawns a mob in a turf peel, but we need to use the default case.
+#define COMSIG_SPAWNER_SPAWNED_DEFAULT "spawner_spawned_default"
+
 /// called when a ghost clicks a spawner role: (mob/living)
 #define COMSIG_GHOSTROLE_SPAWNED "ghostrole_spawned"
diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/spatial_info.dm b/code/__HELPERS/spatial_info.dm
index 98e11b483ba..c23e3a408a5 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/spatial_info.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/spatial_info.dm
@@ -468,5 +468,8 @@
 		if(possible_spawn in inner)
 			continue
 		peel += possible_spawn
+
+	if(!length(peel))
+		return center //Offer the center only as a default case when we don't have a valid circle.
 	return peel
 
diff --git a/code/datums/components/spawner.dm b/code/datums/components/spawner.dm
index 7c85c1a5b2b..29767d11ce6 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/spawner.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/spawner.dm
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@
 			picked_spot = pick(turf_peel(spawn_distance, spawn_distance_exclude, spawner.loc, view_based = TRUE))
 			if(!picked_spot)
 				picked_spot = pick(circle_range_turfs(spawner.loc, spawn_distance))
+			if(picked_spot == spawner.loc)
+				SEND_SIGNAL(spawner, COMSIG_SPAWNER_SPAWNED_DEFAULT)
 			created = new chosen_mob_type(picked_spot)
 		else if (spawn_distance >= 1)
 			picked_spot = pick(circle_range_turfs(spawner.loc, spawn_distance))
diff --git a/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm b/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm
index c8961a5769c..55b160e0109 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/structures/lavaland/ore_vent.dm
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@
 		icon_state = icon_state_tapped
 		update_appearance(UPDATE_ICON_STATE)
 		add_overlay(mutable_appearance('icons/obj/mining_zones/terrain.dmi', "well", ABOVE_MOB_LAYER))
+
+	RegisterSignal(src, COMSIG_SPAWNER_SPAWNED_DEFAULT, PROC_REF(anti_cheese))
 	return ..()
 
 /obj/structure/ore_vent/Destroy()
@@ -407,6 +409,13 @@
 		COOLDOWN_START(src, manual_vent_cooldown, 10 SECONDS)
 	return new_rock
 
+/**
+ * When the ore vent cannot spawn a mob due to being blocked from all sides, we cause some MILD, MILD explosions.
+ * Explosion matches a gibtonite light explosion, as a way to clear neartby solid structures, with a high likelyhood of breaking the NODE drone.
+ */
+/obj/structure/ore_vent/proc/anti_cheese()
+	explosion(src, heavy_impact_range = 1, light_impact_range = 3, flame_range = 0, flash_range = 0, adminlog = FALSE)
+
 //comes with the station, and is already tapped.
 /obj/structure/ore_vent/starter_resources
 	name = "active ore vent"
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/lavaland/node_drone/node_drone.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/lavaland/node_drone/node_drone.dm
index d85ad69682c..8559fc82b68 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/lavaland/node_drone/node_drone.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/lavaland/node_drone/node_drone.dm
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
 	icon_living = "mining_node_active"
 	icon_dead = "mining_node_active"
 
-	maxHealth = 500
-	health = 500
+	maxHealth = 300 // We adjust the max health based on the vent size in the arrive() proc.
+	health = 300
 	density = TRUE
 	pass_flags = PASSTABLE|PASSGRILLE|PASSMOB
 	mob_size = MOB_SIZE_LARGE
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@
 
 /mob/living/basic/node_drone/proc/arrive(obj/structure/ore_vent/parent_vent)
 	attached_vent = parent_vent
+	maxHealth = 300 + ((attached_vent.boulder_size/BOULDER_SIZE_SMALL) * 100)
+	health = maxHealth
 	flying_state = FLY_IN_STATE
 	update_appearance(UPDATE_ICON_STATE)
 	pixel_z = 400