diff --git a/code/modules/lighting/lighting_object.dm b/code/modules/lighting/lighting_object.dm
index c0c5a411e7..9ceb341f91 100644
--- a/code/modules/lighting/lighting_object.dm
+++ b/code/modules/lighting/lighting_object.dm
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 	icon             = LIGHTING_ICON
 	icon_state       = "transparent"
-	color            = LIGHTING_BASE_MATRIX
+	color            = null //we manually set color in init instead
 	plane            = LIGHTING_PLANE
 	mouse_opacity = MOUSE_OPACITY_TRANSPARENT
 	layer            = LIGHTING_LAYER
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 /atom/movable/lighting_object/Initialize(mapload)
 	. = ..()
 	verbs.Cut()
+	//We avoid setting this in the base as if we do then the parent atom handling will add_atom_color it and that
+	//is totally unsuitable for this object, as we are always changing its colour manually
+	color = LIGHTING_BASE_MATRIX
 
 	myturf = loc
 	if (myturf.lighting_object)