diff --git a/code/game/machinery/porta_turret/portable_turret.dm b/code/game/machinery/porta_turret/portable_turret.dm
index 038f0e0eba..f88578bbf9 100644
--- a/code/game/machinery/porta_turret/portable_turret.dm
+++ b/code/game/machinery/porta_turret/portable_turret.dm
@@ -667,14 +667,13 @@
 	..()
 	if(!mapload)
 		return
-	if(control_area && istext(control_area))
-		for(var/V in GLOB.sortedAreas)
-			var/area/A = V
-			if(A.name == control_area)
-				control_area = A
-				break
 
-	if(!control_area)
+	if(control_area)
+		control_area = get_area_instance_from_text(control_area)
+		if(control_area == null)
+			control_area = get_area(src)
+			stack_trace("Bad control_area path for [src], [src.control_area]")
+	else if(!control_area)
 		control_area = get_area(src)
 
 	for(var/obj/machinery/porta_turret/T in control_area)