diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index c17bc16551..96ffd09af8 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	age								= sanitize_integer(age, AGE_MIN, AGE_MAX, initial(age))
 	hair_color						= sanitize_hexcolor(hair_color, 6, FALSE)
 	facial_hair_color				= sanitize_hexcolor(facial_hair_color, 6, FALSE)
-	grad_style						= sanitize_inlist(grad_style, GLOB.hair_gradients_list)
+	grad_style						= sanitize_inlist(grad_style, GLOB.hair_gradients_list, "None")
 	grad_color						= sanitize_hexcolor(grad_color, 6, FALSE)
 	eye_type						= sanitize_inlist(eye_type, GLOB.eye_types, DEFAULT_EYES_TYPE)
 	left_eye_color					= sanitize_hexcolor(left_eye_color, 6, FALSE)