diff --git a/DMCompiler/DMStandard/Types/Atoms/_Atom.dm b/DMCompiler/DMStandard/Types/Atoms/_Atom.dm
index ca0ee2c72e..f058904b9d 100644
--- a/DMCompiler/DMStandard/Types/Atoms/_Atom.dm
+++ b/DMCompiler/DMStandard/Types/Atoms/_Atom.dm
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
 	var/icon_w = 0 as opendream_unimplemented
 	var/icon_z = 0 as opendream_unimplemented
 
-	var/icon = null
-	var/icon_state = ""
+	var/icon = null as icon|null
+	var/icon_state = null as text|null
 	var/layer = 2.0
 	var/plane = 0
 	var/alpha = 255