diff --git a/code/modules/reagents/reagent_containers/rags.dm b/code/modules/reagents/reagent_containers/rags.dm
index c6903ff7b4..afa188e9f6 100644
--- a/code/modules/reagents/reagent_containers/rags.dm
+++ b/code/modules/reagents/reagent_containers/rags.dm
@@ -36,15 +36,19 @@
 		var/reagentlist = pretty_string_from_reagent_list(reagents)
 		var/log_object = "a damp rag containing [reagentlist]"
 		if(user.a_intent == INTENT_HARM && !C.is_mouth_covered())
-			reagents.reaction(C, INGEST)
-			reagents.trans_to(C, 5)
-			C.visible_message("<span class='danger'>[user] has smothered \the [C] with \the [src]!</span>", "<span class='userdanger'>[user] has smothered you with \the [src]!</span>", "<span class='italics'>You hear some struggling and muffled cries of surprise.</span>")
-			log_combat(user, C, "smothered", log_object)
+			C.visible_message("<span class='danger'>[user] is trying to smother \the [C] with \the [src]!</span>", "<span class='userdanger'>[user] is trying to smother you with \the [src]!</span>", "<span class='italics'>You hear some struggling and muffled cries of surprise.</span>")
+			if(do_after(user, 20, target = C))
+				reagents.reaction(C, INGEST)
+				reagents.trans_to(C, 5)
+				C.visible_message("<span class='danger'>[user] has smothered \the [C] with \the [src]!</span>", "<span class='userdanger'>[user] has smothered you with \the [src]!</span>", "<span class='italics'>You hear some struggling and a heavy breath taken.</span>")
+				log_combat(user, C, "smothered", log_object)
 		else
-			reagents.reaction(C, TOUCH)
-			reagents.remove_all(5)
-			C.visible_message("<span class='notice'>[user] has touched \the [C] with \the [src].</span>")
-			log_combat(user, C, "touched", log_object)
+			C.visible_message("<span class='notice'>[user] is trying to wipe \the [C] with \the [src].</span>")
+			if(do_after(user, 20, target = C))
+				reagents.reaction(C, TOUCH)
+				reagents.remove_all(5)
+				C.visible_message("<span class='notice'>[user] has wiped \the [C] with \the [src].</span>")
+				log_combat(user, C, "touched", log_object)
 
 	else if(istype(A) && (src in user))
 		user.visible_message("[user] starts to wipe down [A] with [src]!", "<span class='notice'>You start to wipe down [A] with [src]...</span>")