diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index b9a4fb8f0ca3..006074e74bcd 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -879,18 +879,19 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 					dat += "</td>"
 					mutant_category = 0
 
-			if(generic_adjective)
-				if(!mutant_category)
-					dat += APPEARANCE_CATEGORY_COLUMN
+			// begin generic adjective
+			if(!mutant_category)
+				dat += APPEARANCE_CATEGORY_COLUMN
 
-				dat += "<h3>Character Adjective</h3>"
+			dat += "<h3>Character Adjective</h3>"
 
-				dat += "<a href='?_src_=prefs;preference=generic_adjective;task=input'>[generic_adjective]</a><BR>"
+			dat += "<a href='?_src_=prefs;preference=generic_adjective;task=input'>[generic_adjective]</a><BR>"
 
-				mutant_category++
-				if(mutant_category >= MAX_MUTANT_ROWS)
-					dat += "</td>"
-					mutant_category = 0
+			mutant_category++
+			if(mutant_category >= MAX_MUTANT_ROWS)
+				dat += "</td>"
+				mutant_category = 0
+			// end generic adjective
 
 			if("wings" in pref_species.default_features && GLOB.r_wings_list.len >1)
 				if(!mutant_category)