diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds/finds.dm b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds/finds.dm
index 7464e7c8b06..4e5c733abd3 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds/finds.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds/finds.dm
@@ -323,12 +323,14 @@
 			item_type = new_item.name
 		if(26)
 			//energy gun
-			var/spawn_type = pick(\
+			var/spawn_type = pick(
 			/obj/item/weapon/gun/energy/laser/practice;100,\
 			/obj/item/weapon/gun/energy/laser;75,\
 			/obj/item/weapon/gun/energy/xray;50,\
 			/obj/item/weapon/gun/energy/laser/captain;25,\
 			)
+			if(isnull(spawn_type))
+				spawn_type = /obj/item/weapon/gun/energy/laser
 			var/obj/item/weapon/gun/energy/new_gun = new spawn_type(src.loc)
 			new_item = new_gun
 			new_item.icon_state = "egun[rand(1,6)]"