diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear_challenge.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear_challenge.dm
index 01694f122ce..9ce27a93ab3 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear_challenge.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/nuclear/nuclear_challenge.dm
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 	if(declaring_war)
 		to_chat(user, "You are already in the process of declaring war! Make your mind up.")
 		return FALSE
-	if(length(GLOB.player_list) < CHALLENGE_MIN_PLAYERS)
+	if(length(get_living_players(exclude_nonhuman = FALSE, exclude_offstation = TRUE)) < CHALLENGE_MIN_PLAYERS)
 		to_chat(user, "The enemy crew is too small to be worth declaring war on.")
 		return FALSE
 	if(!is_admin_level(user.z))