diff --git a/code/modules/food/kitchen/microwave.dm b/code/modules/food/kitchen/microwave.dm
index 28355bd7a4e..b149aef9d2e 100644
--- a/code/modules/food/kitchen/microwave.dm
+++ b/code/modules/food/kitchen/microwave.dm
@@ -127,7 +127,8 @@
 			to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>It's dirty!</span>")
 			return 1
 	else if(is_type_in_list(O,acceptable_items))
-		if(cookingContents().len>=(max_n_of_items + circuit_item_capacity))	//Adds component_parts to the maximum number of items. changed 1 to actually just be the circuit item capacity var.
+		var/list/workingList = cookingContents()
+		if(workingList.len>=(max_n_of_items + circuit_item_capacity))	//Adds component_parts to the maximum number of items. changed 1 to actually just be the circuit item capacity var.
 			to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>This [src] is full of ingredients, you cannot put more.</span>")
 			return 1
 		if(istype(O, /obj/item/stack) && O:get_amount() > 1) // This is bad, but I can't think of how to change it