diff --git a/code/datums/components/spawner.dm b/code/datums/components/spawner.dm
index 951aa95b17a..4b0122571f2 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/spawner.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/spawner.dm
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@
 	COOLDOWN_DECLARE(spawn_delay)
 
 /datum/component/spawner/Initialize(mob_types = list(), spawn_time = 30 SECONDS, max_mobs = 5, faction = list(FACTION_MINING), spawn_text = "emerges from")
-	if (!length(mob_types))
-		CRASH("No types of mob to spawn specified for spawner component!")
+	if (!islist(mob_types))
+		CRASH("invalid mob_types to spawn specified for spawner component!")
 	src.spawn_time = spawn_time
 	src.mob_types = mob_types
 	src.faction = faction