diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/xeno_defines.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/xeno_defines.dm
index 512c26f8c360..8a1f0ce00f3b 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/xeno_defines.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/xeno_defines.dm
@@ -930,10 +930,14 @@
 			embryo.hivenumber = XENO_HIVE_FORSAKEN
 		potential_host.update_med_icon()
 	for(var/mob/living/carbon/human/current_human as anything in GLOB.alive_human_list)
-		if((isspecieshuman(current_human) || isspeciessynth(current_human)) && current_human.job)
-			var/turf/turf = get_turf(current_human)
-			if(is_mainship_level(turf?.z))
-				shipside_humans_weighted_count += RoleAuthority.calculate_role_weight(current_human.job)
+		if(!(isspecieshuman(current_human) || isspeciessynth(current_human)))
+			continue
+		var/datum/job/job = RoleAuthority.roles_for_mode[current_human.job]
+		if(!job)
+			continue
+		var/turf/turf = get_turf(current_human)
+		if(is_mainship_level(turf?.z))
+			shipside_humans_weighted_count += RoleAuthority.calculate_role_weight(job)
 	hijack_burrowed_surge = TRUE
 	hijack_burrowed_left = max(n_ceil(shipside_humans_weighted_count * 0.5) - xenos_count, 5)
 	hivecore_cooldown = FALSE