diff --git a/code/game/objects/items.dm b/code/game/objects/items.dm
index b5122f29ae..748a203cc4 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items.dm
@@ -727,14 +727,16 @@ modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm if you die, you will be zoomed out.
 		return icon_override
 
 	//2: species-specific sprite sheets (skipped for inhands)
-	var/sheet = sprite_sheets[body_type]
-	if(sheet && !inhands)
-		return sheet
+	if(LAZYLEN(sprite_sheets))
+		var/sheet = sprite_sheets[body_type]
+		if(sheet && !inhands)
+			return sheet
 
 	//3: slot-specific sprite sheets
-	sheet = item_icons[slot_name]
-	if(sheet)
-		return sheet
+	if(LAZYLEN(item_icons))
+		var/sheet = item_icons[slot_name]
+		if(sheet)
+			return sheet
 
 	//4: item's default icon
 	if(default_worn_icon)
@@ -751,9 +753,10 @@ modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm if you die, you will be zoomed out.
 /obj/item/proc/get_worn_icon_state(var/slot_name)
 
 	//1: slot-specific sprite sheets
-	var/state = item_state_slots[slot_name]
-	if(state)
-		return state
+	if(LAZYLEN(item_state_slots))
+		var/state = item_state_slots[slot_name]
+		if(state)
+			return state
 
 	//2: item_state variable
 	if(item_state)