diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_block.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_block.dm
index 4560b33bdb..e1b90716b6 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_block.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_block.dm
@@ -81,11 +81,6 @@
 	if(!(combat_flags & COMBAT_FLAG_BLOCK_CAPABLE))
 		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You're not something that can actively block.</span>")
 		return FALSE
-	// QOL: Attempt to toggle on combat mode if it isn't already
-	SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_ENABLE_COMBAT_MODE)
-	if(!SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_COMBAT_MODE_CHECK, COMBAT_MODE_ACTIVE))
-		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You must be in combat mode to actively block!</span>")
-		return FALSE
 	// QOL: Instead of trying to just block with held item, grab first available item.
 	var/obj/item/I = find_active_block_item()
 	if(!I)
@@ -94,6 +89,11 @@
 	if(!I.can_active_block())
 		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>[I] is either not capable of being used to actively block, or is not currently in a state that can! (Try wielding it if it's twohanded, for example.)</span>")
 		return
+	// QOL: Attempt to toggle on combat mode if it isn't already
+	SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_ENABLE_COMBAT_MODE)
+	if(!SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_COMBAT_MODE_CHECK, COMBAT_MODE_ACTIVE))
+		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You must be in combat mode to actively block!</span>")
+		return FALSE
 	var/datum/block_parry_data/data = I.get_block_parry_data()
 	var/delay = data.block_start_delay
 	combat_flags |= COMBAT_FLAG_ACTIVE_BLOCK_STARTING
@@ -111,9 +111,8 @@
   */
 /mob/living/proc/find_active_block_item()
 	var/obj/item/held = get_active_held_item()
-	if(!held.can_active_block())
-		for(var/i in held_items - held)
-			var/obj/item/I = i
+	if(!held?.can_active_block())
+		for(var/obj/item/I in held_items - held)
 			if(I.can_active_block())
 				return I
 	return held
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_parry.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_parry.dm
index 6ae83c5647..50b51d4d95 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_parry.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/living_active_parry.dm
@@ -20,17 +20,12 @@
 	if(!(combat_flags & COMBAT_FLAG_PARRY_CAPABLE))
 		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You are not something that can parry attacks.</span>")
 		return
-	//QOL: Try to enable combat mode if it isn't already
-	SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_ENABLE_COMBAT_MODE)
-	if(!SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_COMBAT_MODE_CHECK, COMBAT_MODE_ACTIVE))
-		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You must be in combat mode to parry!</span>")
-		return FALSE
-	var/datum/block_parry_data/data
 	// Prioritize item, then martial art, then unarmed.
 	// yanderedev else if time
 	var/obj/item/using_item = get_active_held_item()
+	var/datum/block_parry_data/data
 	var/method
-	if(using_item.can_active_parry())
+	if(using_item?.can_active_parry())
 		data = using_item.block_parry_data
 		method = ITEM_PARRY
 	else if(mind?.martial_art?.can_martial_parry)
@@ -48,6 +43,11 @@
 		data = backup.block_parry_data
 		using_item = backup
 		method = ITEM_PARRY
+	//QOL: Try to enable combat mode if it isn't already
+	SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_ENABLE_COMBAT_MODE)
+	if(!SEND_SIGNAL(src, COMSIG_COMBAT_MODE_CHECK, COMBAT_MODE_ACTIVE))
+		to_chat(src, "<span class='warning'>You must be in combat mode to parry!</span>")
+		return FALSE
 	data = return_block_parry_datum(data)
 	var/full_parry_duration = data.parry_time_windup + data.parry_time_active + data.parry_time_spindown
 	// no system in place to "fallback" if out of the 3 the top priority one can't parry due to constraints but something else can.
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@
   * Does not look at active held item.
   */
 /mob/living/proc/find_backup_parry_item()
-	for(var/i in held_items - get_active_held_item())
-		var/obj/item/I = i
+	for(var/obj/item/I in held_items - get_active_held_item())
 		if(I.can_active_parry())
 			return I