diff --git a/code/modules/xenoarcheaology/finds/find_spawning.dm b/code/modules/xenoarcheaology/finds/find_spawning.dm
index a62fe3219f..5b4f91a08d 100644
--- a/code/modules/xenoarcheaology/finds/find_spawning.dm
+++ b/code/modules/xenoarcheaology/finds/find_spawning.dm
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@
 
 		if(talkative)
 			new_item.talking_atom = new(new_item)
-			if(new_item.vars["origin_tech"]) //ChompEDIT - fix runtimes with items that don't have this var
+			if("origin_tech" in new_item.vars) //ChompEDIT - fix runtimes with items that don't have this var
 				LAZYINITLIST(new_item.origin_tech)
 				new_item.origin_tech[TECH_ARCANE] += 1
 				new_item.origin_tech[TECH_PRECURSOR] += 1