diff --git a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/loadout/gear_tweaks.dm b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/loadout/gear_tweaks.dm
index f371fac6c18..ba5f621dbc3 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preference_setup/loadout/gear_tweaks.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preference_setup/loadout/gear_tweaks.dm
@@ -151,6 +151,11 @@ GLOBAL_DATUM_INIT(gear_tweak_free_matrix_recolor, /datum/gear_tweak/matrix_recol
 			continue
 		else
 			path = 	contents[metadata[i]]
+		if(!path)
+			var/mob/user = ismob(I.loc) ? I.loc : I.loc?.loc
+			if(istype(user))
+				to_chat(user, span_warning("The content \"[metadata[i]]\" from \"[I]\" does no longer exist and has not been loaded. Please replace it in the character setup."))
+			continue
 		new path(I)
 
 /*