diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
index 79fc4078f8..0b3c930962 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
 	var/sentience_type = SENTIENCE_ORGANIC
 
 /obj/item/slimepotion/sentience/afterattack(mob/living/M, mob/user)
-	if(being_used || !ismob(M))
+	if(being_used || !ismob(M) || !user.Adjacent(M))
 		return
 	if(!isanimal(M) || M.ckey) //only works on animals that aren't player controlled
 		to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>[M] is already too intelligent for this to work!</span>")