diff --git a/code/modules/organs/subtypes/diona.dm b/code/modules/organs/subtypes/diona.dm
index f720ca68b6..92bfe1c73e 100644
--- a/code/modules/organs/subtypes/diona.dm
+++ b/code/modules/organs/subtypes/diona.dm
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
 
 /obj/item/organ/internal/brain/cephalon/Initialize(mapload)
 	. = ..()
-	if(!owner.isSynthetic())
+	if(!owner?.isSynthetic())
 		vital = FALSE
 
 /obj/item/organ/internal/brain/cephalon/robotize()