diff --git a/sandcode/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/show.dm b/sandcode/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/show.dm
index 0a05154bda..edd752ed8a 100644
--- a/sandcode/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/show.dm
+++ b/sandcode/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/show.dm
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
 /mob/living/carbon/proc/showoff()
 	var/obj/item/I = get_active_held_item()
 	var/obj/item/arm = get_active_hand()
-	if(!I)
+	if(!I && arm)
 		usr.show_message("[usr] holds up [arm].", 1)
+	else if(!arm && !I)
+		to_chat(usr, "<span class='notice'>You frown because now there's nothing you can show.</span>")
 	else if(!HAS_TRAIT(I, ABSTRACT_ITEM_TRAIT))
 		I.showoff(src)