diff --git a/code/datums/components/ai_retaliate_advanced.dm b/code/datums/components/ai_retaliate_advanced.dm
index c06617b938f..b9492f8bc54 100644
--- a/code/datums/components/ai_retaliate_advanced.dm
+++ b/code/datums/components/ai_retaliate_advanced.dm
@@ -33,5 +33,10 @@
 	if(!victim.ai_controller)
 		return
 
+	if(isanimal_or_basicmob(attacker)) // Don't retaliate on nuzzles
+		var/mob/living/M = attacker
+		if(M.a_intent == INTENT_HELP)
+			return
+
 	victim.ai_controller.insert_blackboard_key_lazylist(BB_BASIC_MOB_RETALIATE_LIST, attacker)
 	post_retaliate_callback?.InvokeAsync(attacker)
diff --git a/code/datums/elements/ai_retaliate.dm b/code/datums/elements/ai_retaliate.dm
index 837b9747ebc..627d489bb81 100644
--- a/code/datums/elements/ai_retaliate.dm
+++ b/code/datums/elements/ai_retaliate.dm
@@ -24,4 +24,8 @@
 
 	if(victim == attacker)
 		return
+	if(isanimal_or_basicmob(attacker)) // Don't retaliate on nuzzles
+		var/mob/living/M = attacker
+		if(M.a_intent == INTENT_HELP)
+			return
 	victim.ai_controller?.insert_blackboard_key_lazylist(BB_BASIC_MOB_RETALIATE_LIST, attacker)
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/retaliate/clown.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/retaliate/clown.dm
index 1b36f039188..949817e1003 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/basic/retaliate/clown.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/basic/retaliate/clown.dm
@@ -41,7 +41,13 @@
 /mob/living/basic/clown/proc/retaliate_callback(mob/living/attacker)
 	if(!istype(attacker))
 		return
+	if(attacker.ai_controller) // Don't chain retaliates.
+		var/list/shitlist = attacker.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_RETALIATE_LIST]
+		if(src in shitlist)
+			return
 	for(var/mob/living/basic/clown/harbringer in oview(src, 7))
+		if(harbringer == attacker) // Do not commit suicide attacking yourself
+			continue
 		harbringer.ai_controller.insert_blackboard_key_lazylist(BB_BASIC_MOB_RETALIATE_LIST, attacker)
 
 /mob/living/basic/clown/goblin