diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/dynamic_human_icon_gen.dm b/code/__HELPERS/dynamic_human_icon_gen.dm
index 31957a27600..eb6d53517df 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/dynamic_human_icon_gen.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/dynamic_human_icon_gen.dm
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(dynamic_human_appearances)
 /proc/get_dynamic_human_appearance(outfit_path, species_path = /datum/species/human, mob_spawn_path, r_hand, l_hand, bloody_slots = NONE, animated = TRUE)
 	if(!species_path)
 		return FALSE
+	if(!ispath(species_path))
+		stack_trace("Attempted to call get_dynamic_human_appearance() with an instantiated species_path. Pass the species datum typepath instead.")
+		return FALSE
 	var/arg_string = "[outfit_path]_[species_path]_[mob_spawn_path]_[l_hand]_[r_hand]_[bloody_slots]"
 	if(GLOB.dynamic_human_appearances[arg_string]) //if already exists in our cache, just return that
 		return GLOB.dynamic_human_appearances[arg_string]
diff --git a/code/modules/hallucination/mother.dm b/code/modules/hallucination/mother.dm
index 4e2a389260c..70c4f13d173 100644
--- a/code/modules/hallucination/mother.dm
+++ b/code/modules/hallucination/mother.dm
@@ -77,5 +77,5 @@
 /obj/effect/client_image_holder/hallucination/your_mother/Initialize(mapload, list/mobs_which_see_us, datum/hallucination/parent)
 	. = ..()
 	var/mob/living/carbon/hallucinator = parent.hallucinator
-	image_icon = getFlatIcon(get_dynamic_human_appearance(/datum/outfit/yourmother, hallucinator.dna.species))
+	image_icon = getFlatIcon(get_dynamic_human_appearance(/datum/outfit/yourmother, hallucinator.dna.species.type))
 	regenerate_image()