diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm
index 0dbd1dd272c..402757f62ea 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/life.dm
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@
 				if(E.name == "l_hand" || E.name == "l_arm")
 					if(hand && equipped())
 						drop_item()
-						emote("custom v drops what they were holding, their [E.display_name?"[E.display_name]":"[E]"] malfunctioning!")
+						emote("me", 1, "drops what they were holding, their [E.display_name?"[E.display_name]":"[E]"] malfunctioning!")
 						var/datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread/spark_system = new /datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread()
 						spark_system.set_up(5, 0, src)
 						spark_system.attach(src)
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
 				else if(E.name == "r_hand" || E.name == "r_arm")
 					if(!hand && equipped())
 						drop_item()
-						emote("custom v drops what they were holding, their [E.display_name?"[E.display_name]":"[E]"] malfunctioning!")
+						emote("me", 1, "drops what they were holding, their [E.display_name?"[E.display_name]":"[E]"] malfunctioning!")
 						var/datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread/spark_system = new /datum/effect/effect/system/spark_spread()
 						spark_system.set_up(5, 0, src)
 						spark_system.attach(src)