diff --git a/code/modules/events/anomaly_event.dm b/code/modules/events/anomaly_event.dm
index 14b0ae316cc..2dca17d83ee 100644
--- a/code/modules/events/anomaly_event.dm
+++ b/code/modules/events/anomaly_event.dm
@@ -15,26 +15,27 @@
 	target_turf = find_targets(TRUE)
 
 /datum/event/anomaly/proc/find_targets(warn_on_fail = FALSE)
-	var/turf/target
 	for(var/tries in 0 to TURF_FIND_TRIES)
 		impact_area = findEventArea()
 		if(!impact_area)
 			if(warn_on_fail)
-				CRASH("No valid areas for anomaly found.")
-			else
-				return
+				stack_trace("No valid areas for anomaly found.")
+				kill()
+			return
 		var/list/candidate_turfs = get_area_turfs(impact_area)
 		while(length(candidate_turfs))
 			var/turf/candidate = pick_n_take(candidate_turfs)
 			if(!is_blocked_turf(candidate,TRUE))
-				target = candidate
+				target_turf = candidate
 				break
 		if(target_turf)
 			break
 	if(!target_turf)
-		CRASH("Anomaly: Unable to find a valid turf to spawn the anomaly. Last area tried: [impact_area] - [impact_area.type]")
+		stack_trace("Anomaly: Unable to find a valid turf to spawn the anomaly. Last area tried: [impact_area] - [impact_area.type]")
+		kill()
+		return
 
-	return target
+	return target_turf
 
 /datum/event/anomaly/announce(false_alarm)
 	var/area/target = false_alarm ? findEventArea() : impact_area