diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/borer/borer_powers.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/borer/borer_powers.dm
index c07a105cbba..39b2cadf1dc 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/borer/borer_powers.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/borer/borer_powers.dm
@@ -214,9 +214,9 @@
 	if(chemicals < 50)
 		src << "You don't have enough chemicals!"
 
-	var/chem = input("Select a chemical to secrete.", "Chemicals") in list("bicaridine","tramadol","hyperzine","alkysine")
+	var/chem = input("Select a chemical to secrete.", "Chemicals") as null|anything in list("alkysine","bicaridine","hyperzine","tramadol")
 
-	if(chemicals < 50 || !host || controlling || !src || stat) //Sanity check.
+	if(!chem || chemicals < 50 || !host || controlling || !src || stat) //Sanity check.
 		return
 
 	src << "\red <B>You squirt a measure of [chem] from your reservoirs into [host]'s bloodstream.</B>"