diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/cleanbot.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/cleanbot.dm
index fa3ab06c3c7..70cb9eeecfb 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/cleanbot.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/bot/cleanbot.dm
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@
 /mob/living/simple_animal/bot/cleanbot/ui_act(action, params)
 	if(..())
 		return
-	if(topic_denied(usr))
+	if(action != "area" && topic_denied(usr))
 		to_chat(usr, "<span class='warning'>[src]'s interface is not responding!</span>")
 		return
 	add_fingerprint(usr)