diff --git a/zone/spell_effects.cpp b/zone/spell_effects.cpp
index 8af4e5324..68c04432b 100644
--- a/zone/spell_effects.cpp
+++ b/zone/spell_effects.cpp
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ bool Mob::SpellEffect(Mob* caster, uint16 spell_id, float partial, int level_ove
 	std::string buf = fmt::format(
 		"{} {} {} {}",
 		caster ? caster->GetID() : 0,
-		buffs[buffslot].ticsremaining,
+		buffslot >= 0 ? buffs[buffslot].ticsremaining : 0,
 		caster ? caster->GetLevel() : 0,
 		buffslot
 	);