diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human_defines.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human_defines.dm
index b9cde0c192b..064819b2cd8 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human_defines.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/human_defines.dm
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 
 	var/used_skillpoints = 0
 	var/skill_specialization = null
-	var/list/skills = null
+	var/list/skills = list()
 
 	var/icon/stand_icon = null
 	var/icon/lying_icon = null