diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/say.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/say.dm
index 27d0e9cbaf..4903d4a75e 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/say.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/say.dm
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 /mob/living/carbon/can_speak_vocal(message)
 	if(silent)
 		return 0
+	if(get_message_language(message) == /datum/language/signlanguage && handcuffed != null)
+		return 0
 	return ..()
 
 /mob/living/carbon/could_speak_language(datum/language/language)