diff --git a/std/npc.c b/std/npc.c
index 3483bf8..beca4fd 100644
--- a/std/npc.c
+++ b/std/npc.c
@@ -187,5 +187,7 @@
 
 string _query_race()
 {
-   if (stringp(Query(P_RACE))) return capitalize(Query(P_RACE));
+   if (stringp(Query(P_RACE,F_VALUE)))
+       return capitalize(Query(P_RACE));
+   return 0;
 }