diff --git a/code/datums/elements/ventcrawling.dm b/code/datums/elements/ventcrawling.dm
index 4af3a085ef..254345a97f 100644
--- a/code/datums/elements/ventcrawling.dm
+++ b/code/datums/elements/ventcrawling.dm
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 /datum/element/ventcrawling/Attach(datum/target, duration = 0, given_tier = VENTCRAWLER_NUDE)
 	. = ..()
 
+	var/mob/living/person = target
+	if(!istype(person))
+		return FALSE
+
 	src.tier = given_tier
 
 	RegisterSignal(target, COMSIG_HANDLE_VENTCRAWL, .proc/handle_ventcrawl)
@@ -16,9 +20,10 @@
 		addtimer(CALLBACK(src, .proc/Detach, target), duration)
 
 /datum/element/ventcrawling/Detach(datum/target)
-	. = ..()
-
 	UnregisterSignal(target, list(COMSIG_HANDLE_VENTCRAWL, COMSIG_CHECK_VENTCRAWL))
+	to_chat(target, "<span class='notice'>You can no longer ventcrawl.</span>")
+
+	return ..()
 
 /datum/element/ventcrawling/proc/handle_ventcrawl(datum/target,atom/A)
 	var/mob/living/person = target
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/golems.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/golems.dm
index 858e3000fb..75aff774ce 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/golems.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/golems.dm
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@
 
 /datum/species/golem/plastic/on_species_loss(mob/living/carbon/C)
 	. = ..()
-	C.RemoveElement(/datum/element/ventcrawling)
+	C.RemoveElement(/datum/element/ventcrawling, given_tier = VENTCRAWLER_ALWAYS)
 
 /datum/species/golem/bronze
 	name = "Bronze Golem"
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/vampire.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/vampire.dm
index 2296b69762..5e07150ce6 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/vampire.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/vampire.dm
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
 	if(istype(H, /mob/living/simple_animal))
 		var/mob/living/simple_animal/SA = H
 		if((human_caster.blood_volume <= (BLOOD_VOLUME_BAD*human_caster.blood_ratio)) || (ventcrawl_nude_only && length(human_caster.get_equipped_items(include_pockets = TRUE))))
-			SA.RemoveElement(/datum/element/ventcrawling)
+			SA.RemoveElement(/datum/element/ventcrawling, given_tier = VENTCRAWLER_ALWAYS)
 	if(transfer_name)
 		H.name = human_caster.name
 
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/friendly/drone/interaction.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/friendly/drone/interaction.dm
index 0728484cea..11d7884999 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/friendly/drone/interaction.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/friendly/drone/interaction.dm
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 		to_chat(src, "<i>Your onboard antivirus has initiated lockdown. Motor servos are impaired, ventilation access is denied, and your display reports that you are hacked to all nearby.</i>")
 		hacked = TRUE
 		mind.special_role = "hacked drone"
-		RemoveElement(/datum/element/ventcrawling) // balance
+		RemoveElement(/datum/element/ventcrawling, given_tier = VENTCRAWLER_ALWAYS) // balance
 		speed = 1 //gotta go slow
 		message_admins("[src] ([src.key]) became a hacked drone hellbent on [clockwork ? "serving Ratvar" : "destroying the station"]!")
 	else