diff --git a/DMAPI/st_interface.dm b/DMAPI/st_interface.dm
index 61aabcebce..9e7d987af2 100644
--- a/DMAPI/st_interface.dm
+++ b/DMAPI/st_interface.dm
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ SERVER_TOOLS_DEFINE_AND_SET_GLOBAL(server_tools_api_compatible, FALSE)
 		return
 	if(skip_compat_check && !fexists(SERVICE_INTERFACE_DLL))
 		CRASH("Service parameter present but no interface DLL detected. This is symptomatic of running a service less than version 3.1! Please upgrade.")
-	call(SERVICE_INTERFACE_DLL, SERVICE_INTERFACE_FUNCTION)(params[SERVICE_INSTANCE_PARAM], command)	//trust no retval
+	var/instance = params[SERVICE_INSTANCE_PARAM]
+	if(!instance)
+		instance = "TG Station Server"	//maybe just upgraded
+	call(SERVICE_INTERFACE_DLL, SERVICE_INTERFACE_FUNCTION)(instance, command)	//trust no retval
 	return TRUE
 
 /world/proc/ChatBroadcast(message)