diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/bees.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/bees.dm
index ce7ab92e0c..f5454933c8 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/bees.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/hostile/bees.dm
@@ -270,9 +270,12 @@
 			var/datum/reagent/R = GLOB.chemical_reagents_list[S.reagents.get_master_reagent_id()]
 			if(R && S.reagents.has_reagent(R.type, 5))
 				S.reagents.remove_reagent(R.type,5)
-				queen.assign_reagent(R)
-				user.visible_message("<span class='warning'>[user] injects [src]'s genome with [R.name], mutating it's DNA!</span>","<span class='warning'>You inject [src]'s genome with [R.name], mutating it's DNA!</span>")
-				name = queen.name
+				if(R.can_synth)
+					queen.assign_reagent(R)
+					user.visible_message("<span class='warning'>[user] injects [src]'s genome with [R.name], mutating it's DNA!</span>","<span class='warning'>You inject [src]'s genome with [R.name], mutating it's DNA!</span>")
+					name = queen.name
+				else
+					user.visible_message("<span class='warning'>[user] injects [src]'s genome with [R.name]... but nothing happens.</span>","<span class='warning'>You inject [src]'s genome with [R.name]... but nothing happens.</span>")
 			else
 				to_chat(user, "<span class='warning'>You don't have enough units of that chemical to modify the bee's DNA!</span>")
 	..()