diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/lurker/lurker_powers.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/lurker/lurker_powers.dm
index 373c2701ce37..0d1bcc99281a 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/lurker/lurker_powers.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/xenomorph/abilities/lurker/lurker_powers.dm
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@
 	if(distance > 2)
 		return
 
-	var/list/turf/path = get_line(xeno, hit_target, include_start_atom = FALSE)
+	var/list/turf/path = get_line(xeno, targeted_atom, include_start_atom = FALSE)
 	for(var/turf/path_turf as anything in path)
 		if(path_turf.density)
 			to_chat(xeno, SPAN_WARNING("There's something blocking us from striking!"))
@@ -237,8 +237,20 @@
 			if(current_structure.density && !current_structure.throwpass)
 				to_chat(xeno, SPAN_WARNING("There's something blocking us from striking!"))
 				return
-
-	if(!isxeno_human(hit_target) || xeno.can_not_harm(hit_target) || hit_target.stat == DEAD)
+	// find a target in the target turf
+	if(!iscarbon(targeted_atom) || hit_target.stat == DEAD)
+		for(var/mob/living/carbon/carbonara in get_turf(targeted_atom))
+			hit_target = carbonara
+			if(!xeno.can_not_harm(hit_target) && hit_target.stat != DEAD)
+				break
+
+	if(iscarbon(hit_target) && !xeno.can_not_harm(hit_target) && hit_target.stat != DEAD)
+		if(targeted_atom == hit_target) //reward for a direct hit
+			to_chat(xeno, SPAN_XENOHIGHDANGER("We directly slam [hit_target] with our tail, throwing it back after impaling it on our tail!"))
+			hit_target.apply_armoured_damage(15, ARMOR_MELEE, BRUTE, "chest")
+		else
+			to_chat(xeno, SPAN_XENODANGER("We attack [hit_target] with our tail, throwing it back after stabbing it with our tail!"))
+	else
 		xeno.visible_message(SPAN_XENOWARNING("\The [xeno] swipes their tail through the air!"), SPAN_XENOWARNING("We swipe our tail through the air!"))
 		apply_cooldown(cooldown_modifier = 0.2)
 		playsound(xeno, 'sound/effects/alien_tail_swipe1.ogg', 50, TRUE)
@@ -247,11 +259,8 @@
 	// FX
 	var/stab_direction
 
-	to_chat(xeno, SPAN_XENOHIGHDANGER("We directly slam [hit_target] with our tail, throwing it back after impaling it on our tail!"))
+	stab_direction = turn(get_dir(xeno, targeted_atom), 180)
 	playsound(hit_target,'sound/weapons/alien_tail_attack.ogg', 50, TRUE)
-
-	stab_direction = turn(get_dir(xeno, hit_target), 180)
-
 	if(hit_target.mob_size < MOB_SIZE_BIG)
 		step_away(hit_target, xeno)