diff --git a/zone/attack.cpp b/zone/attack.cpp
index 9ee46b31c..17b5f7d74 100644
--- a/zone/attack.cpp
+++ b/zone/attack.cpp
@@ -3186,7 +3186,11 @@ void Mob::AddToHateList(Mob* other, int64 hate /*= 0*/, int64 damage /*= 0*/, bo
 
 	// if other is a bot, add the bots client to the hate list
 	if (RuleB(Bots, Enabled)) {
-		 if (other->IsBot()) {
+		if (other->GetOwner() && other->GetOwner()->IsBot()) {
+			other = other->GetOwner();
+		}
+
+		if (other->IsBot()) {
 			auto other_ = other->CastToBot();
 
 			if (!other_ || !other_->GetBotOwner()) {