diff --git a/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm b/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm
index 5e6e9f2a5c1..490bfb26de5 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/new_player/new_player.dm
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@
 
 			if(alert(src,"Are you sure you wish to observe? You will not be able to play this round!","Player Setup","Yes","No") == "Yes")
 				var/mob/dead/observer/observer = new()
+                if(isnull(observer))
+                    CRASH("An observer mob could not be created. ( null after var/mob/dead/observer/observer = new() )
 
 				spawning = 1
 				src << sound(null, repeat = 0, wait = 0, volume = 85, channel = 1) // MAD JAMS cant last forever yo