diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
index c637ef90f2b..62b9cf6cd65 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living.dm
@@ -873,10 +873,10 @@
 	return 1
 
 /mob/living/start_pulling(atom/movable/AM, state, force = pull_force, supress_message = FALSE)
-	if(!(AM.can_be_pulled(src, state, force)))
-		return FALSE
 	if(!AM || !src)
 		return FALSE
+	if(!(AM.can_be_pulled(src, state, force)))
+		return FALSE
 	if(incapacitated())
 		return
 	// If we're pulling something then drop what we're currently pulling and pull this instead.