diff --git a/code/modules/surgery/organs/lungs.dm b/code/modules/surgery/organs/lungs.dm
index ef358c48da..64b2c2ee90 100644
--- a/code/modules/surgery/organs/lungs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/surgery/organs/lungs.dm
@@ -451,6 +451,6 @@
 
 /obj/item/organ/lungs/slime/check_breath(datum/gas_mixture/breath, mob/living/carbon/human/H)
 	. = ..()
-	if (breath.gases[/datum/gas/plasma])
+	if (breath && breath.gases[/datum/gas/plasma])
 		var/plasma_pp = breath.get_breath_partial_pressure(breath.gases[/datum/gas/plasma])
 		owner.blood_volume += (0.2 * plasma_pp) // 10/s when breathing literally nothing but plasma, which will suffocate you.