diff --git a/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/card/Card.java b/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/card/Card.java
index ee3776155ee..7c28c3e83d0 100644
--- a/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/card/Card.java
+++ b/forge-game/src/main/java/forge/game/card/Card.java
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ public class Card extends GameEntity implements Comparable<Card>, IHasSVars {
             }
         } else if (mode.equals("Meld") && isMeldable()) {
             return changeToState(CardStateName.Meld);
-        } else if (mode.equals("Specialize")) {
+        } else if (mode.equals("Specialize") && canSpecialize()) {
             if (customState.equalsIgnoreCase("white")) {
                 return changeToState(CardStateName.SpecializeW);
             } else if (customState.equalsIgnoreCase("blue")) {