diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm
index f973540303..ecd28fbb9c 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/cult/cult.dm
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@
 	if(objectives.Find("eldergod"))
 		cult_fail += eldergod //1 by default, 0 if the elder god has been summoned at least once
 	if(objectives.Find("sacrifice"))
-		if(!sacrificed.Find(sacrifice_target)) //if the target has been sacrificed, ignore this step. otherwise, add 1 to cult_fail
+		if(sacrifice_target && !sacrificed.Find(sacrifice_target)) //if the target has been sacrificed, ignore this step. otherwise, add 1 to cult_fail
 			cult_fail++
 
 	return cult_fail //if any objectives aren't met, failure
diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/implants/implantpad.dm b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/implants/implantpad.dm
index f3f0032cd6..476ed726cd 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/implants/implantpad.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/implants/implantpad.dm
@@ -34,12 +34,7 @@
 			src.add_fingerprint(user)
 			update()
 		else
-			if (user.contents.Find(src))
-				spawn( 0 )
-					src.attack_self(user)
-					return
-			else
-				return ..()
+			return ..()
 		return