diff --git a/src/npc/generate/generateGenetics.js b/src/npc/generate/generateGenetics.js
index 926149aeee78590f5a7c01759f9cae315f5e884b..87b1229a1a91f5f60249273a5f55b1a5237b11df 100644
--- a/src/npc/generate/generateGenetics.js
+++ b/src/npc/generate/generateGenetics.js
@@ -1143,9 +1143,10 @@ globalThis.generateGenetics = (function() {
  */
 globalThis.generateChild = function(mother, ovum, incubator=false) {
 	let genes = ovum.genetics; // TODO: maybe just argument this? We'll see.
-	let child = {};
+	let child;
 
 	if (!incubator) { // does extra work for the incubator if defined, otherwise builds a simple object
+		child = {};
 		child.genes = genes.gender;
 		setSlaveName(child, genes);
 		setSurname(child, genes);