diff --git a/code/modules/player_tips_vr/player_tips_controller_vr.dm b/code/modules/player_tips_vr/player_tips_controller_vr.dm
index 71e7be1584..90a542838a 100644
--- a/code/modules/player_tips_vr/player_tips_controller_vr.dm
+++ b/code/modules/player_tips_vr/player_tips_controller_vr.dm
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ Controlled by the player_tips subsystem under code/controllers/subsystems/player
 //Called every 5 minutes as defined in the subsystem.
 /datum/player_tips/proc/send_tips()
 	if(world.time > last_tip_time + tip_delay)
+		last_tip_time = world.time
+		tip_delay = rand(min_tip_delay, max_tip_delay)
 		var/tip = pick_tip("none") //"none" picks a random topic of advice.
 		var/stopWhile = 0
 		while(tip == last_tip) //Prevent posting the same tip twice in a row if possible, but don't force it.
@@ -23,18 +25,14 @@ Controlled by the player_tips subsystem under code/controllers/subsystems/player
 			stopWhile = stopWhile + 1
 			if(stopWhile >= 10)
 				break
-
+		last_tip = tip
 		for(var/mob/M in player_list)
 			if(M.is_preference_enabled(/datum/client_preference/player_tips))
-				if(!(M.mind.key in HasReceived))
+				if(!M.key && !(M.key in HasReceived))
 					to_chat(M, SPAN_WARNING("You have periodic player tips enabled. You may turn them off at any time with the Toggle Receiving Player Tips verb in Preferences, or in character set up under the OOC tab!\n Player tips appear every 45-75 minutes."))
-					HasReceived.Add(M.mind.key)
+					HasReceived.Add(M.key)
 				to_chat(M, SPAN_NOTICE("[tip]"))
 
-		last_tip = tip
-		last_tip_time = world.time
-		tip_delay = rand(min_tip_delay, max_tip_delay)
-