diff --git a/code/modules/newscaster/obj/newscaster.dm b/code/modules/newscaster/obj/newscaster.dm
index 51c99518bc7..f3a87eaac4e 100644
--- a/code/modules/newscaster/obj/newscaster.dm
+++ b/code/modules/newscaster/obj/newscaster.dm
@@ -676,6 +676,8 @@
   * * wanted_notice - Whether the alert is a wanted notice notification (overrides announcement)
   */
 /obj/machinery/newscaster/proc/alert_news(announcement, wanted_notice = FALSE)
+	if(!is_operational())
+		return
 	if(wanted_notice)
 		atom_say("Attention! Wanted issue distributed!")
 		playsound(loc, 'sound/machines/warning-buzzer.ogg', 75, TRUE)