diff --git a/Content.Shared/Interaction/SmartEquipSystem.cs b/Content.Shared/Interaction/SmartEquipSystem.cs
index 797dc367b4..da79fc1e69 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Interaction/SmartEquipSystem.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Interaction/SmartEquipSystem.cs
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public sealed class SmartEquipSystem : EntitySystem
         }
 
         // early out if we have an item and cant drop it at all
-        if (hands.ActiveHandId != null && !_hands.CanDropHeld(uid, hands.ActiveHandId))
+        if (handItem != null && !_hands.CanDropHeld(uid, hands.ActiveHandId))
         {
             _popup.PopupClient(Loc.GetString("smart-equip-cant-drop"), uid, uid);
             return;