diff --git a/code/datums/datum.dm b/code/datums/datum.dm
index 77dbec31a49..ccf9b3ab4a9 100644
--- a/code/datums/datum.dm
+++ b/code/datums/datum.dm
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 	var/list/signal_procs = list()
 
 	// Thinking
-	var/list/_think_ctxs = list()
+	var/list/_think_ctxs
 	var/datum/think_context/_main_think_ctx
 
 #ifdef TESTING
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@
 /// * `clbk` - a proc which should be called.
 /// * `time` - when to call the context.
 /datum/proc/add_think_ctx(name, datum/callback/clbk, time)
+	LAZYINITLIST(_think_ctxs)
+
 	if(!QDELETED(_think_ctxs[name]))
 		CRASH("Thinking context [name] is exists")