diff --git a/code/__DEFINES/role_preferences.dm b/code/__DEFINES/role_preferences.dm
index 605b3f6485..09b5be572f 100644
--- a/code/__DEFINES/role_preferences.dm
+++ b/code/__DEFINES/role_preferences.dm
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 //The gamemode specific ones are just so the gamemodes can query whether a player is old enough
 //(in game days played) to play that role
 GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(special_roles, list(
+	ROLE_SYNDICATE,
 	ROLE_TRAITOR = /datum/game_mode/traitor,
 	ROLE_BROTHER = /datum/game_mode/traitor/bros,
 	ROLE_OPERATIVE = /datum/game_mode/nuclear,
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
index 10c0154412..2134ea77ad 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@
 
 	for(var/mob/dead/new_player/player in players)
 		if(player.client && player.ready == PLAYER_READY_TO_PLAY)
-			if(role in player.client.prefs.be_special)
+			if(role in player.client.prefs.be_special && ROLE_SYNDICATE in player.client.prefs.be_special)
 				if(!jobban_isbanned(player, ROLE_SYNDICATE) && !QDELETED(player) && !jobban_isbanned(player, role) && !QDELETED(player)) //Nodrak/Carn: Antag Job-bans
 					if(age_check(player.client)) //Must be older than the minimum age
 						candidates += player.mind				// Get a list of all the people who want to be the antagonist for this round