diff --git a/Content.Server/Chat/Managers/ChatManager.cs b/Content.Server/Chat/Managers/ChatManager.cs
index 776dfe7450..28cb8c950a 100644
--- a/Content.Server/Chat/Managers/ChatManager.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/Chat/Managers/ChatManager.cs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ internal sealed partial class ChatManager : IChatManager
     [Dependency] private ILogManager _logManager = default!;
     [Dependency] private ILocalizationManager _localizationManager = default!;
 
-    private ISawmill _sawmill = default!;
+    private ISawmill? _sawmill = default!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The maximum length a player-sent message can be sent
@@ -119,8 +119,11 @@ internal sealed partial class ChatManager : IChatManager
     {
         var wrappedMessage = Loc.GetString("chat-manager-server-wrap-message", ("message", FormattedMessage.EscapeText(message)));
         ChatMessageToAll(ChatChannel.Server, message, wrappedMessage, EntityUid.Invalid, hideChat: false, recordReplay: true, colorOverride: colorOverride);
-        _sawmill.Info(message);
 
+        // _sawmill might have not been initialized when DispatchServerAnnouncement is called
+        // during server setup when some cvars are changed
+        _sawmill?.Info(message);
+        
         _adminLogger.Add(LogType.Chat, LogImpact.Low, $"Server announcement: {message}");
     }