diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/blastradius.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/blastradius.zs
index 9dacb58a4..eee084f83 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/blastradius.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actors/hexen/blastradius.zs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ extend class Actor
 			(victim.radius + 1) * cos(ang),
 			(victim.radius + 1) * sin(ang),
 			(victim.Height / 2) - victim.Floorclip);
-		Actor mo = Spawn (blasteffect, spawnpos, ALLOW_REPLACE);
+		Actor mo = blasteffect? Spawn (blasteffect, spawnpos, ALLOW_REPLACE) : null;
 		if (mo)
 		{
 			mo.Vel.XY = victim.Vel.XY;