diff --git a/Content.Client/Tips/TippyUIController.cs b/Content.Client/Tips/TippyUIController.cs
index 7737a3d698..77c10193a5 100644
--- a/Content.Client/Tips/TippyUIController.cs
+++ b/Content.Client/Tips/TippyUIController.cs
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public sealed class TippyUIController : UIController
                 ? -WaddleRotation
                 : WaddleRotation;
 
-            if (EntityManager.TryGetComponent(_entity, out FootstepModifierComponent? step))
+            if (EntityManager.TryGetComponent(_entity, out FootstepModifierComponent? step) && step.FootstepSoundCollection != null)
             {
                 var audioParams = step.FootstepSoundCollection.Params
                     .AddVolume(-7f)
diff --git a/Content.Shared/Movement/Components/FootstepModifierComponent.cs b/Content.Shared/Movement/Components/FootstepModifierComponent.cs
index bd7b5377bd..e658f6d948 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Movement/Components/FootstepModifierComponent.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Movement/Components/FootstepModifierComponent.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@ namespace Content.Shared.Movement.Components;
 [RegisterComponent, NetworkedComponent, AutoGenerateComponentState]
 public sealed partial class FootstepModifierComponent : Component
 {
-    [DataField(required: true), AutoNetworkedField]
-    public SoundSpecifier FootstepSoundCollection = default!;
+    [DataField, AutoNetworkedField]
+    public SoundSpecifier? FootstepSoundCollection;
 }
diff --git a/Content.Shared/Movement/Systems/SharedMoverController.cs b/Content.Shared/Movement/Systems/SharedMoverController.cs
index 472d56b1d6..5de74d7294 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/Movement/Systems/SharedMoverController.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/Movement/Systems/SharedMoverController.cs
@@ -439,14 +439,14 @@ public abstract partial class SharedMoverController : VirtualController
         if (FootstepModifierQuery.TryComp(uid, out var moverModifier))
         {
             sound = moverModifier.FootstepSoundCollection;
-            return true;
+            return sound != null;
         }
 
         if (_inventory.TryGetSlotEntity(uid, "shoes", out var shoes) &&
             FootstepModifierQuery.TryComp(shoes, out var modifier))
         {
             sound = modifier.FootstepSoundCollection;
-            return true;
+            return sound != null;
         }
 
         return TryGetFootstepSound(uid, xform, shoes != null, out sound, tileDef: tileDef);
@@ -467,10 +467,9 @@ public abstract partial class SharedMoverController : VirtualController
             if (FootstepModifierQuery.TryComp(xform.MapUid, out var modifier))
             {
                 sound = modifier.FootstepSoundCollection;
-                return true;
             }
 
-            return false;
+            return sound != null;
         }
 
         var position = grid.LocalToTile(xform.Coordinates);
@@ -493,7 +492,7 @@ public abstract partial class SharedMoverController : VirtualController
             if (FootstepModifierQuery.TryComp(maybeFootstep, out var footstep))
             {
                 sound = footstep.FootstepSoundCollection;
-                return true;
+                return sound != null;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Clothing/Shoes/specific.yml b/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Clothing/Shoes/specific.yml
index 87a0c06c4a..46fb16b1f2 100644
--- a/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Clothing/Shoes/specific.yml
+++ b/Resources/Prototypes/Entities/Clothing/Shoes/specific.yml
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@
     # ninja are masters of sneaking around relatively quickly, won't break cloak
     walkModifier: 1.1
     sprintModifier: 1.3
+  - type: FootstepModifier
+    footstepSoundCollection:
+      collection: null
 
 - type: entity
   parent: ClothingShoesBaseButcherable