diff --git a/code/datums/emote.dm b/code/datums/emote.dm
index a25d7469b29..dee076571a8 100644
--- a/code/datums/emote.dm
+++ b/code/datums/emote.dm
@@ -275,12 +275,12 @@
 		// Vary needs to be true as otherwise frequency changes get ignored deep within playsound_local :(
 		playsound(user.loc, sound_path, sound_volume, TRUE, frequency = H.get_age_pitch(H.dna.species.max_age) * alter_emote_pitch(user))
 	else
-		playsound(user.loc, sound_path, sound_volume, TRUE, frequency = alter_emote_pitch(user))
+		playsound(user.loc, sound_path, sound_volume, TRUE, frequency = alter_emote_pitch(user, FALSE))
 
-/datum/emote/proc/alter_emote_pitch(mob/user)
+/datum/emote/proc/alter_emote_pitch(mob/user, multiplicative = TRUE)
 	if(HAS_TRAIT(user, TRAIT_I_WANT_BRAINS))
 		return 0.7
-	return 1
+	return multiplicative
 
 /**
  * Send an emote to runechat for all (listening) users in the vicinity.