diff --git a/code/datums/datumvars.dm b/code/datums/datumvars.dm
index b7f889edcb4..9a545c0df42 100644
--- a/code/datums/datumvars.dm
+++ b/code/datums/datumvars.dm
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ body
 			for(var/entry in L)
 				var/state = "INDEX"
 				var/val = null
-				if(isnum(entry) || internal_byond_list_vars[entry])
+				if(isnum(entry) || internal_byond_list_vars[name])
 					state = "INDEX"
 				else
 					val = L[entry]