diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
index d921a5c5605..2e07507b06c 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
@@ -314,9 +314,17 @@
 
 		log_combat(src, M, "grabbed", addition="passive grab")
 		if(!supress_message && !(iscarbon(AM) && HAS_TRAIT(src, TRAIT_STRONG_GRABBER)))
-			M.visible_message(span_warning("[src] grabs [M] [(zone_selected == "l_arm" || zone_selected == "r_arm" && ishuman(M))? "by their hands":"passively"]!"), \
-							span_warning("[src] grabs you [(zone_selected == "l_arm" || zone_selected == "r_arm" && ishuman(M))? "by your hands":"passively"]!"), null, null, src)
-			to_chat(src, span_notice("You grab [M] [(zone_selected == "l_arm" || zone_selected == "r_arm" && ishuman(M))? "by their hands":"passively"]!"))
+			if(ishuman(M))
+				var/mob/living/carbon/human/grabbed_human = M
+				var/grabbed_by_hands = (zone_selected == "l_arm" || zone_selected == "r_arm") && grabbed_human.usable_hands > 0
+				M.visible_message(span_warning("[src] grabs [M] [grabbed_by_hands ? "by their hands":"passively"]!"), \
+								span_warning("[src] grabs you [grabbed_by_hands ? "by your hands":"passively"]!"), null, null, src)
+				to_chat(src, span_notice("You grab [M] [grabbed_by_hands ? "by their hands":"passively"]!"))
+			else
+				M.visible_message(span_warning("[src] grabs [M] passively!"), \
+								span_warning("[src] grabs you passively!"), null, null, src)
+				to_chat(src, span_notice("You grab [M] passively!"))
+
 		if(!iscarbon(src))
 			M.LAssailant = null
 		else