diff --git a/code/game/area/areas.dm b/code/game/area/areas.dm
index f87f7a757c..672d5c096f 100644
--- a/code/game/area/areas.dm
+++ b/code/game/area/areas.dm
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 
 	/// If it's valid territory for gangs/cults to summon
 	var/valid_territory = TRUE
+	/// malf ais can hack this
+	var/valid_malf_hack = TRUE
 	/// if blobs can spawn there and if it counts towards their score.
 	var/blob_allowed = TRUE
 	/// whether servants can warp into this area from Reebe
@@ -572,6 +574,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(teleportlocs)
 	power_environ = FALSE
 	always_unpowered = FALSE
 	valid_territory = FALSE
+	valid_malf_hack = FALSE
 	blob_allowed = FALSE
 	addSorted()
 
diff --git a/code/modules/power/apc.dm b/code/modules/power/apc.dm
index 65b3c0a2e4..a70e508476 100644
--- a/code/modules/power/apc.dm
+++ b/code/modules/power/apc.dm
@@ -1125,6 +1125,10 @@
 	if(malf.malfhacking)
 		to_chat(malf, "You are already hacking an APC.")
 		return
+	var/area/ourarea = get_area(src)
+	if(!ourarea.valid_malf_hack)
+		to_chat(malf, "This APC is not well connected enough to the Exonet to provide any useful processing capabilities.")
+		return
 	to_chat(malf, "Beginning override of APC systems. This takes some time, and you cannot perform other actions during the process.")
 	malf.malfhack = src
 	malf.malfhacking = addtimer(CALLBACK(malf, /mob/living/silicon/ai/.proc/malfhacked, src), 600, TIMER_STOPPABLE)