diff --git a/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm b/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
index b60039840d..1c1043c7fd 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/mob_helpers.dm
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ var/global/list/limb_types_by_name = list(
 	var/message_length = length(message)
 	var/index = 1
 	while(index <= message_length)
-		var/char = copytext(message, index, index + 1)
+		var/char = copytext_char(message, index, index + 1)
 		if(char == " " || prob(clear_char_probability))
 			output_message += char
 		else