diff --git a/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm b/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm
index 2c876cd9a3e6..c7ffab63782d 100644
--- a/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm
+++ b/code/modules/language/language_holder.dm
@@ -306,6 +306,12 @@ Key procs
 							/datum/language/machine = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
 							/datum/language/draconic = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM))
 
+/datum/language_holder/preternis
+	understood_languages = list(/datum/language/common = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
+								/datum/language/machine = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),)
+	spoken_languages = list(/datum/language/common = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),
+							/datum/language/machine = list(LANGUAGE_ATOM),)
+
 /datum/language_holder/empty
 	understood_languages = list()
 	spoken_languages = list()
diff --git a/yogstation/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/preternis/preternis.dm b/yogstation/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/preternis/preternis.dm
index 58be79b7b16e..78d27cb90238 100644
--- a/yogstation/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/preternis/preternis.dm
+++ b/yogstation/code/modules/mob/living/carbon/human/species_types/preternis/preternis.dm
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ adjust_charge - take a positive or negative value to adjust the charge level
 	var/tesliumtrip = FALSE
 	var/draining = FALSE
 	screamsound = 'goon/sound/robot_scream.ogg'
+	species_language_holder = /datum/language_holder/preternis
 
 /datum/species/preternis/on_species_gain(mob/living/carbon/C, datum/species/old_species, pref_load)
 	. = ..()