diff --git a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/02_language.dm b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/02_language.dm
index 783358d692b..fc21c743c09 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/02_language.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/general/02_language.dm
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 		// Sanitize illegal languages
 		for(var/language in pref.alternate_languages)
 			var/datum/language/L = GLOB.all_languages[language]
-			if((L.flags & RESTRICTED) || (!(language in S.secondary_langs) && !is_lang_whitelisted(pref.client, L)))
+			if(!istype(L) || (L.flags & RESTRICTED) || (!(language in S.secondary_langs) && !is_lang_whitelisted(pref.client, L)))
 				pref.alternate_languages -= language
 
 	if(isnull(pref.language_prefixes) || !pref.language_prefixes.len)