diff --git a/engine/player/player.cpp b/engine/player/player.cpp
index c4cc379832c..bf764cf68fb 100644
--- a/engine/player/player.cpp
+++ b/engine/player/player.cpp
@@ -12611,7 +12611,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<expr_t> player_t::create_expression( util::string_view expressio
   // pet
   if ( splits.size() >= 2 && splits[ 0 ] == "pet" )
   {
-    if ( splits[ 1 ] == "any" && splits[ 2 ] == "active" )
+    if ( splits.size() == 3 && splits[ 1 ] == "any" && splits[ 2 ] == "active" )
     {
       return make_fn_expr( expression_str, [ this ]
       {
diff --git a/engine/sim/sim.cpp b/engine/sim/sim.cpp
index 32bb5d859c1..5360f0e3e8a 100644
--- a/engine/sim/sim.cpp
+++ b/engine/sim/sim.cpp
@@ -3609,7 +3609,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<expr_t> sim_t::create_expression( util::string_view name_str )
   if ( splits.size() >= 3 && splits[ 0 ] == "actors" )
   {
     player_t* actor = sim_t::find_player( splits[ 1 ] );
-    if ( !target )
+    if ( !actor )
       return nullptr;
 
     auto rest = std::string( splits[ 2 ] );