diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/decentralized/ai_data_core.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/decentralized/ai_data_core.dm
index 763eb34c7792..617dbcf3773b 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/decentralized/ai_data_core.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/ai/decentralized/ai_data_core.dm
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(primary_data_core, null)
 	idle_power_usage = 1000
 	use_power = IDLE_POWER_USE
 
+	critical_machine = TRUE
+
 	var/primary = FALSE
 
 	var/valid_ticks = MAX_AI_DATA_CORE_TICKS //Limited to MAX_AI_DATA_CORE_TICKS. Decrement by 1 every time we have an invalid tick, opposite when valid