diff --git a/src/playermat/Playmat.ttslua b/src/playermat/Playmat.ttslua
index 59fa7d8b..7616d653 100644
--- a/src/playermat/Playmat.ttslua
+++ b/src/playermat/Playmat.ttslua
@@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ function maybeUpdateActiveInvestigator(card)
   end
 
   -- spawn additional token (maybe specific for investigator)
-  if extraToken ~= "None" then
+  if extraToken and extraToken ~= "None" then
     -- set value to class if currently "nil"
     extraToken = extraToken or activeInvestigatorClass