diff --git a/src/data/move.ts b/src/data/move.ts
index 9d64e818f1a..23e86c59604 100644
--- a/src/data/move.ts
+++ b/src/data/move.ts
@@ -1918,7 +1918,6 @@ export class StatusEffectAttr extends MoveEffectAttr {
   apply(user: Pokemon, target: Pokemon, move: Move, args: any[]): boolean {
     const moveChance = this.getMoveChance(user, target, move, this.selfTarget, true);
     const statusCheck = moveChance < 0 || moveChance === 100 || user.randSeedInt(100) < moveChance;
-    const targetSide = target instanceof EnemyPokemon ? ArenaTagSide.ENEMY : ArenaTagSide.PLAYER;
     if (statusCheck) {
       const pokemon = this.selfTarget ? user : target;
       if (pokemon.status) {
@@ -1929,7 +1928,7 @@ export class StatusEffectAttr extends MoveEffectAttr {
         }
       }
 
-      if (user !== target && user.scene.arena.getTagOnSide(ArenaTagType.SAFEGUARD, targetSide)) {
+      if (user !== target && target.scene.arena.getTagOnSide(ArenaTagType.SAFEGUARD, target.isPlayer() ? ArenaTagSide.PLAYER : ArenaTagSide.ENEMY)) {
         if (move.category === MoveCategory.STATUS) {
           user.scene.queueMessage(i18next.t("moveTriggers:safeguard", { targetName: getPokemonNameWithAffix(target)}));
         }