diff --git a/code/datums/diseases/black_goo.dm b/code/datums/diseases/black_goo.dm
index 876eeaf5d4d5..0081d9e4e2b2 100644
--- a/code/datums/diseases/black_goo.dm
+++ b/code/datums/diseases/black_goo.dm
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
 		playsound(human.loc, 'sound/hallucinations/wail.ogg', 25, 1)
 		human.jitteriness = 0
 		human.set_species(SPECIES_ZOMBIE)
-		stage = 3
+		stage = 4
 		human.faction = FACTION_ZOMBIE
 		zombie_is_transforming = FALSE