diff --git a/src/microbe_stage/components/CellProperties.cs b/src/microbe_stage/components/CellProperties.cs
index 67e59786a29..7f0b6b7e256 100644
--- a/src/microbe_stage/components/CellProperties.cs
+++ b/src/microbe_stage/components/CellProperties.cs
@@ -186,8 +186,13 @@ public static float EjectCompound(this ref CellProperties cellProperties, ref Wo
     {
         float amount = compounds.TakeCompound(compound, maxAmount);
 
-        cellProperties.SpawnEjectedCompound(ref cellPosition, compoundCloudSystem, compound, amount, direction,
-            displacement);
+        if (!cellProperties.SpawnEjectedCompound(ref cellPosition, compoundCloudSystem, compound, amount, direction,
+                displacement))
+        {
+            // If membrane was not ready, we didn't eject anything
+            return 0;
+        }
+
         return amount;
     }
 
@@ -352,7 +357,7 @@ public static bool SpawnEjectedCompound(this ref CellProperties cellProperties,
 
         if (cellProperties.CreatedMembrane == null)
         {
-            GD.PrintErr($"{nameof(SpawnEjectedCompound)} called before membrane is created, ignoring eject");
+            GD.Print($"{nameof(SpawnEjectedCompound)} called before membrane is created, ignoring eject");
             return false;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/microbe_stage/systems/EngulfedDigestionSystem.cs b/src/microbe_stage/systems/EngulfedDigestionSystem.cs
index a0e5b302920..8cfddd7c7df 100644
--- a/src/microbe_stage/systems/EngulfedDigestionSystem.cs
+++ b/src/microbe_stage/systems/EngulfedDigestionSystem.cs
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ private void HandleDigestion(in Entity entity, ref Engulfer engulfer, ref Organe
                 var takenAdjusted = taken * efficiency;
                 var added = compounds.AddCompound(compound, takenAdjusted);
 
-                // Eject excess
+                // Eject excess (we just want to get rid of it, we don't care if the eject failed)
                 cellProperties.SpawnEjectedCompound(ref position, compoundCloudSystem, compound,
                     takenAdjusted - added, Vector3.Back);
             }
diff --git a/src/microbe_stage/systems/MicrobeEmissionSystem.cs b/src/microbe_stage/systems/MicrobeEmissionSystem.cs
index 13e1dd9ec0b..683bf1f08f1 100644
--- a/src/microbe_stage/systems/MicrobeEmissionSystem.cs
+++ b/src/microbe_stage/systems/MicrobeEmissionSystem.cs
@@ -328,9 +328,6 @@ private void HandleSlimeSecretion(in Entity entity, ref MicrobeControl control,
             // Activate all jets, which will constantly secrete slime until we turn them off
             foreach (var jet in organelles.SlimeJets)
             {
-                // Make sure this is animating
-                jet.Active = true;
-
                 // Secrete the slime
                 float slimeToSecrete = Math.Min(Constants.COMPOUNDS_TO_VENT_PER_SECOND * delta,
                     compounds.GetCompoundAmount(Compound.Mucilage));
@@ -341,6 +338,13 @@ private void HandleSlimeSecretion(in Entity entity, ref MicrobeControl control,
                 slimeToSecrete = cellProperties.EjectCompound(ref worldPosition, compounds, clouds, Compound.Mucilage,
                     slimeToSecrete, -direction, 2);
 
+                // If we couldn't emit (due to no membrane yet), then skip for now
+                if (slimeToSecrete <= 0)
+                    continue;
+
+                // Make sure this is animating
+                jet.Active = true;
+
                 // Queue movement force to be used by the movement system based on the amount of slime ejected
                 jet.AddQueuedForce(entity, slimeToSecrete);
             }