diff --git a/code/modules/holodeck/HolodeckControl.dm b/code/modules/holodeck/HolodeckControl.dm
index 45eaf758f9..0509bf3d86 100644
--- a/code/modules/holodeck/HolodeckControl.dm
+++ b/code/modules/holodeck/HolodeckControl.dm
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@
 	if(HP.ambience)
 		linkedholodeck.forced_ambience = HP.ambience
 	else
-		linkedholodeck.forced_ambience = initial(linkedholodeck.ambience)
+		linkedholodeck.forced_ambience = list()
 
 	for(var/mob/living/M in mobs_in_area(linkedholodeck))
 		if(M.mind)