diff --git a/code/game/area/areas.dm b/code/game/area/areas.dm
index f0e87cc93a..a826f6e002 100644
--- a/code/game/area/areas.dm
+++ b/code/game/area/areas.dm
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ var/list/mob/living/forced_ambiance_list = new
 			L << chosen_ambiance
 		else
 			L << sound(null, channel = CHANNEL_AMBIENCE_FORCED)
-	else if(src.ambience.len)
+	else if(src.ambience && src.ambience.len)
 		var/ambience_odds = L?.client.prefs.ambience_chance
 		if(prob(ambience_odds) && (world.time >= L.client.time_last_ambience_played + 1 MINUTE))
 			var/sound = pick(ambience)