diff --git a/code/datums/emote.dm b/code/datums/emote.dm
index 8e15c6f29e0..938e73e5a66 100644
--- a/code/datums/emote.dm
+++ b/code/datums/emote.dm
@@ -237,9 +237,6 @@
  * Returns TRUE if the emote was able to be run (or failed successfully), or FALSE if the emote is unusable.
  */
 /datum/emote/proc/try_run_emote(mob/user, params, type_override, intentional = FALSE)
-	if(!can_run_emote(user, intentional = intentional))
-		return FALSE
-
 	// You can use this signal to block execution of emotes from components/other sources.
 	var/sig_res = SEND_SIGNAL(user, COMSIG_MOB_PREEMOTE, key, intentional)
 	switch(sig_res)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob_emote.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob_emote.dm
index ab8a2760a59..0c350fd2e7e 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob_emote.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob_emote.dm
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@
 		return FALSE
 	var/silenced = FALSE
 	for(var/datum/emote/P in key_emotes)
+		// can this mob run the emote at all?
+		if(!P.can_run_emote(src, intentional))
+			continue
 		if(!P.check_cooldown(src, intentional))
 			// if an emote's on cooldown, don't spam them with messages of not being able to use it
 			silenced = TRUE