diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/devices/pipe_painter.dm b/code/game/objects/items/devices/pipe_painter.dm
index e066a0b168..c068117f0b 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/devices/pipe_painter.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/devices/pipe_painter.dm
@@ -7,9 +7,15 @@
 	var/mode = "grey"
 
 /obj/item/device/pipe_painter/afterattack(atom/A, mob/user as mob)
-	if(!istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/tank) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/vent) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/simple/heat_exchanging) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/simple/insulated))
+	if(!istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/tank) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/vent) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/simple/heat_exchanging) || istype(A,/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/simple/insulated) || !in_range(user, A))
 		return
 	var/obj/machinery/atmospherics/pipe/P = A
+
+	var/turf/T = P.loc
+	if (T.level==1 && isturf(T) && T.intact)
+		user << "\red You must remove the plating first."
+		return
+
 	P.pipe_color = mode
 	user.visible_message("<span class='notice'>[user] paints \the [P] [mode].</span>","<span class='notice'>You paint \the [P] [mode].</span>")
 	P.update_icon()