diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/update_status.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/update_status.dm
index 73231403d9a..420b8708eb6 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/update_status.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/update_status.dm
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
 		return 0
 
 /mob/living/update_blurry_effects()
-	var/atom/movable/plane_master_controller/game_plane_master_controller = hud_used.plane_master_controllers[PLANE_MASTERS_GAME]
+	var/atom/movable/plane_master_controller/game_plane_master_controller = hud_used?.plane_master_controllers[PLANE_MASTERS_GAME]
+	if(!game_plane_master_controller)
+		return
 	if(eye_blurry)
 		game_plane_master_controller.add_filter("eye_blur", 1, gauss_blur_filter(clamp(eye_blurry * EYE_BLUR_TO_FILTER_SIZE_MULTIPLIER, 0.6, MAX_EYE_BLURRY_FILTER_SIZE)))
 	else