diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index 5727e7b671e..f60a5409da9 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@
 	metadata		= sanitize_text(metadata, initial(metadata))
 	real_name		= reject_bad_name(real_name)
 	if(isnull(species)) species = "Human"
+	if(isnull(nanotrasen_relation)) nanotrasen_relation = initial(nanotrasen_relation)
 	if(!real_name) real_name = random_name()
 	be_random_name	= sanitize_integer(be_random_name, 0, 1, initial(be_random_name))
 	gender			= sanitize_gender(gender)