diff --git a/code/game/alternate_appearance.dm b/code/game/alternate_appearance.dm
index 901a8610a6..712b3425e0 100644
--- a/code/game/alternate_appearance.dm
+++ b/code/game/alternate_appearance.dm
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(active_alternate_appearances)
 		QDEL_NULL(ghost_appearance)
 
 /datum/atom_hud/alternate_appearance/basic/add_to_hud(atom/A)
+	LAZYINITLIST(A.hud_list)
 	A.hud_list[appearance_key] = theImage
 	. = ..()