diff --git a/code/game/turfs/open/openspace.dm b/code/game/turfs/open/openspace.dm
index afdcccf8ee9..2006a3e6829 100644
--- a/code/game/turfs/open/openspace.dm
+++ b/code/game/turfs/open/openspace.dm
@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@
 	if(!T)
 		return
 	if(T.turf_flags & NO_RUINS && protect_ruin)
-		ChangeTurf(replacement_turf, null, CHANGETURF_IGNORE_AIR)
-		if(!isopenspaceturf(replacement_turf)) // only openspace turfs should be returning INITIALIZE_HINT_LATELOAD
+		var/turf/newturf = ChangeTurf(replacement_turf, null, CHANGETURF_IGNORE_AIR)
+		if(!isopenspaceturf(newturf)) // only openspace turfs should be returning INITIALIZE_HINT_LATELOAD
 			return INITIALIZE_HINT_NORMAL
 		return
 	if(!ismineralturf(T) || !drill_below)