diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm
index a0a0b8da8a9..72afe3247fd 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@
 					if(E.name == "l_hand" || E.name == "l_arm")
 						if(hand && equipped())
 							drop_item()
-							emote("custom v drops what they were holding, their [E] malfunctioning!")
+							emote("custom v drops what they were holding, their [E.display_name?"[E.display_name]":"[E]"] malfunctioning!")
 							var/datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread/spark_system = new /datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread()
 							spark_system.set_up(5, 0, src)
 							spark_system.attach(src)
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@
 					else if(E.name == "r_hand" || E.name == "r_arm")
 						if(!hand && equipped())
 							drop_item()
-							emote("custom v drops what they were holding, their [E] malfunctioning!")
+							emote("custom v drops what they were holding, their [E.display_name?"[E.display_name]":"[E]"] malfunctioning!")
 							var/datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread/spark_system = new /datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread()
 							spark_system.set_up(5, 0, src)
 							spark_system.attach(src)