diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index 6a463d53bb..7ae8ec280b 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 					var/list/markings = features[marking_type]
 					if(!islist(markings))
 						// something went terribly wrong
-						markings = []
+						markings = list()
 					var/list/reverse_markings = reverseList(markings)
 					for(var/list/marking_list in reverse_markings)
 						var/marking_index = markings.Find(marking_list) // consider changing loop to go through indexes over lists instead of using Find here