diff --git a/code/datums/elements/loomable.dm b/code/datums/elements/loomable.dm
index 070bc47f5ca..cdb1ba30573 100644
--- a/code/datums/elements/loomable.dm
+++ b/code/datums/elements/loomable.dm
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 	/// How much of item do we need to loom, will be ignored if item isnt a stack
 	var/required_amount
 	/// What thing we look for triggering the loom process (usually a loom)
-	var/obj/target_type
+	var/atom/loom_type
 	/// What verb best fits the action of processing whatever the item is, for example "spun [thing]"
 	var/process_completion_verb
 	/// If the target needs to be anchored
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 	obj/item/target,
 	resulting_atom = /obj/item/stack/sheet/cloth,
 	required_amount = 4,
-	target_type = /obj/structure/loom,
+	loom_type = /obj/structure/loom,
 	process_completion_verb = "spun",
 	target_needs_anchoring = TRUE,
 	loom_time = 1 SECONDS
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 		return ELEMENT_INCOMPATIBLE
 	src.resulting_atom = resulting_atom
 	src.required_amount = required_amount
-	src.target_type = target_type
+	src.loom_type = loom_type
 	src.process_completion_verb = process_completion_verb
 	src.target_needs_anchoring = target_needs_anchoring
 	src.loom_time = loom_time
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@
 /datum/element/loomable/proc/on_examine(obj/item/source, mob/examiner, list/examine_list)
 	SIGNAL_HANDLER
 
-	examine_list += span_notice("You could probably process [source] at a <b>[initial(target_type.name)]</b>.")
+	examine_list += span_notice("You could probably process [source] at \a <b>[initial(loom_type.name)]</b>.")
 
 /// Checks if the thing we clicked on can be used as a loom, and if we can actually loom the source at present (an example being does the stack have enough in it (if its a stack))
 /datum/element/loomable/proc/try_and_loom_me(obj/item/source, atom/target, mob/living/user)
 	SIGNAL_HANDLER
 
-	if(!istype(target, target_type))
+	if(!istype(target, loom_type))
 		return
 
 	if(ismovable(target))
@@ -72,12 +72,22 @@
 /// If a do_after of the specified loom_time passes, will create a new one of resulting_atom and either delete the item, or .use the required amount if its a stack
 /datum/element/loomable/proc/loom_me(obj/item/source, mob/living/user, atom/target)
 	if(!do_after(user, loom_time, target))
+		user.balloon_alert(user, "interrupted!")
+		return
+
+	///we need to perform another check in case a stack somehow got diminished in the middle of the do_after
+	var/successful = TRUE
+	if(isstack(source))
+		var/obj/item/stack/stack_we_use = source
+		if(!stack_we_use.use(required_amount))
+			successful = FALSE
+	else
+		qdel(source)
+
+	//ripbozo
+	if(!successful)
+		user.balloon_alert(user, "need [required_amount] of [source]!")
 		return
 
 	var/new_thing = new resulting_atom(target.drop_location())
 	user.balloon_alert_to_viewers("[process_completion_verb] [new_thing]")
-	if(isstack(source))
-		var/obj/item/stack/stack_we_use = source
-		stack_we_use.use(required_amount)
-	else
-		qdel(source)