diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/swords_axes_etc.dm b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/swords_axes_etc.dm
index 8b9d914bc24..7ee3499c1cd 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/swords_axes_etc.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/swords_axes_etc.dm
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
 	playsound(src.loc, 'sound/weapons/empty.ogg', 50, 1)
 	add_fingerprint(user)
 
-	if(blood_overlay && (blood_DNA.len >= 1)) //updates blood overlay, if any
+	if(blood_overlay && blood_DNA && (blood_DNA.len >= 1)) //updates blood overlay, if any
 		overlays.Cut()//this might delete other item overlays as well but eeeeeeeh
 
 		var/icon/I = new /icon(src.icon, src.icon_state)
@@ -265,4 +265,4 @@
 		H.update_inv_r_hand()
 
 	add_fingerprint(user)
-	return
\ No newline at end of file
+	return