diff --git a/src/main/java/gripe/_90/appliede/AppliedE.java b/src/main/java/gripe/_90/appliede/AppliedE.java
index 8299a4a..ef06125 100644
--- a/src/main/java/gripe/_90/appliede/AppliedE.java
+++ b/src/main/java/gripe/_90/appliede/AppliedE.java
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.common.Mod;
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.javafmlmod.FMLJavaModLoadingContext;
 import net.minecraftforge.fml.loading.FMLEnvironment;
+import net.minecraftforge.fml.loading.LoadingModList;
+import net.minecraftforge.fml.loading.moddiscovery.ModInfo;
 import net.minecraftforge.registries.DeferredRegister;
 import net.minecraftforge.registries.ForgeRegistries;
 import net.minecraftforge.registries.RegistryObject;
@@ -73,7 +75,7 @@ public final class AppliedE {
         ITEMS.register("emc_interface", () -> new BlockItem(block, new Item.Properties()));
         return block;
     });
-    public static final RegistryObject<Item> CABLE_EMC_INTERFACE = ITEMS.register("cable_emc_interface", () -> ModList.get().isLoaded("aecapfix")
+    public static final RegistryObject<Item> CABLE_EMC_INTERFACE = ITEMS.register("cable_emc_interface", () -> isModLoaded("aecapfix")
             ? part(EMCInterfacePartAECF.class, EMCInterfacePartAECF::new)
             : part(EMCInterfacePart.class, EMCInterfacePart::new));
 
@@ -118,9 +120,15 @@ public static ResourceLocation id(String path) {
         return new ResourceLocation(MODID, path);
     }
 
+    private static boolean isModLoaded(String modId) {
+        return ModList.get() != null
+                ? ModList.get().isLoaded(modId)
+                : LoadingModList.get().getMods().stream().map(ModInfo::getModId).anyMatch(modId::equals);
+    }
+
     public static boolean useCustomMapper() {
         // prioritise existing AE2 EMC mapping add-on over this one
-        if (ModList.get().isLoaded("projecteintegration")) {
+        if (isModLoaded("projecteintegration")) {
             return false;
         }