diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
index 1e88d35e7e..0ae179c1ba 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/mapping.dm
@@ -470,7 +470,6 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(the_station_areas)
 			return
 
 	var/away_name
-	var/datum/space_level/away_level
 
 	var/answer = input("What kind ? ","Away/VR") as null|anything in (possible_options + "Custom")
 	switch(answer)
@@ -482,19 +481,14 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(the_station_areas)
 				return
 			away_name = "[mapfile] custom"
 			to_chat(usr,"<span class='notice'>Loading [away_name]...</span>")
-			var/datum/map_template/template = new(mapfile, choice, ztraits)
-			away_level = template.load_new_z(ztraits)
+			createSpecificZlevel(choice, ztraits, mapfile)
 		else
 			away_name = answer
 			to_chat(usr,"<span class='notice'>Loading [away_name]...</span>")
-			var/datum/map_template/template = new(away_name, choice)
-			away_level = template.load_new_z(ztraits)
+			createSpecificZlevel(choice, ztraits, away_name)
 
-	message_admins("Admin [key_name_admin(usr)] has loaded [away_name] away mission.")
-	log_admin("Admin [key_name(usr)] has loaded [away_name] away mission.")
-	if(!away_level)
-		message_admins("Loading [away_name] failed!")
-		return
+	message_admins("Admin [key_name_admin(usr)] has attempted to load [away_name] away mission.")
+	log_admin("Admin [key_name(usr)] has attempted to load [away_name] away mission.")
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/mapping/proc/RequestBlockReservation(width, height, z, type = /datum/turf_reservation, turf_type_override, border_type_override)
 	UNTIL((!z || reservation_ready["[z]"]) && !clearing_reserved_turfs)
diff --git a/code/modules/awaymissions/zlevel.dm b/code/modules/awaymissions/zlevel.dm
index 1e2e1fe43c..406e1ced29 100644
--- a/code/modules/awaymissions/zlevel.dm
+++ b/code/modules/awaymissions/zlevel.dm
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@
 	INIT_ANNOUNCE("Loaded [name] in [(REALTIMEOFDAY - start_time)/10]s!")
 	GLOB.random_zlevels_generated[name] = TRUE
 
+/proc/createSpecificZlevel(name = AWAY_MISSION_NAME, list/traits = list(ZTRAIT_AWAY = TRUE), map)
+	var/start_time = REALTIMEOFDAY
+	if(!load_new_z_level(map, name, SOUTH, traits))
+		INIT_ANNOUNCE("Failed to load [name]! map filepath: [map]!")
+		return
+	INIT_ANNOUNCE("Loaded [name] in [(REALTIMEOFDAY - start_time)/10]s!")
+	GLOB.random_zlevels_generated[name] = TRUE
+
 /obj/effect/landmark/awaystart
 	name = "away mission spawn"
 	desc = "Randomly picked away mission spawn points."
diff --git a/code/modules/mapping/map_template.dm b/code/modules/mapping/map_template.dm
index 087552fada..b102abb767 100644
--- a/code/modules/mapping/map_template.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mapping/map_template.dm
@@ -90,20 +90,25 @@
 /datum/map_template/proc/load_new_z(orientation = SOUTH, list/ztraits = src.ztraits || list(ZTRAIT_AWAY = TRUE), centered = TRUE)
 	var/x = centered? max(round((world.maxx - width) / 2), 1) : 1
 	var/y = centered? max(round((world.maxy - height) / 2), 1) : 1
-
+	message_admins("d1")
 	var/datum/space_level/level = SSmapping.add_new_zlevel(name, ztraits)
+	message_admins("d2")
 	var/datum/parsed_map/parsed = load_map(file(mappath), x, y, level.z_value, no_changeturf=(SSatoms.initialized == INITIALIZATION_INSSATOMS), placeOnTop = TRUE, orientation = orientation)
+	message_admins("d3")
 	var/list/bounds = parsed.bounds
 	if(!bounds)
 		return FALSE
 
 	repopulate_sorted_areas()
-
+	message_admins("d4")
 	//initialize things that are normally initialized after map load
 	parsed.initTemplateBounds()
+	message_admins("d5")
 	smooth_zlevel(world.maxz)
+	message_admins("d6")
 	log_game("Z-level [name] loaded at [x],[y],[world.maxz]")
 	on_map_loaded(world.maxz, parsed.bounds)
+	message_admins("d7")
 
 	return level
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mapping/space_management/zlevel_manager.dm b/code/modules/mapping/space_management/zlevel_manager.dm
index 6129c5fd2b..c5bd788ecd 100644
--- a/code/modules/mapping/space_management/zlevel_manager.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mapping/space_management/zlevel_manager.dm
@@ -17,14 +17,20 @@
 		z_list += S
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/mapping/proc/add_new_zlevel(name, traits = list(), z_type = /datum/space_level)
+	message_admins("d1_1")
 	SEND_GLOBAL_SIGNAL(COMSIG_GLOB_NEW_Z, args)
 	var/new_z = z_list.len + 1
-	if (world.maxz < new_z)
+	if(world.maxz < new_z)
+		message_admins("d1_2")
 		world.incrementMaxZ()
-		CHECK_TICK
+		message_admins("d1_3")
+		//CHECK_TICK
 	// TODO: sleep here if the Z level needs to be cleared
+	message_admins("d1_4")
 	var/datum/space_level/S = new z_type(new_z, name, traits)
+	message_admins("d1_5")
 	z_list += S
+	message_admins("d1_6")
 	return S
 
 /datum/controller/subsystem/mapping/proc/get_level(z)