diff --git a/soh/src/overlays/misc/ovl_kaleido_scope/z_kaleido_item.c b/soh/src/overlays/misc/ovl_kaleido_scope/z_kaleido_item.c
index fe57289fac..1658a6dc58 100644
--- a/soh/src/overlays/misc/ovl_kaleido_scope/z_kaleido_item.c
+++ b/soh/src/overlays/misc/ovl_kaleido_scope/z_kaleido_item.c
@@ -354,8 +354,13 @@ void KaleidoScope_DrawItemSelect(GlobalContext* globalCtx) {
                 KaleidoScope_SetCursorVtx(pauseCtx, index, pauseCtx->itemVtx);
 
                 if ((pauseCtx->debugState == 0) && (pauseCtx->state == 6) && (pauseCtx->unk_1E4 == 0)) {
-                    if (CVar_GetS32("gMaskSelect", 0) && (gSaveContext.eventChkInf[8] & 0x8000) &&
-                        cursorSlot == SLOT_TRADE_CHILD && CHECK_BTN_ALL(input->press.button, BTN_A)) {
+                    // only allow mask select when:
+                    // the shop is open (zelda's letter check): gSaveContext.eventChkInf[4] & 1
+                    // and the mask quest is complete: gSaveContext.eventChkInf[8] & 0x8000
+                    if (CVar_GetS32("gMaskSelect", 0) &&
+                        (gSaveContext.eventChkInf[8] & 0x8000) &&
+                        cursorSlot == SLOT_TRADE_CHILD && CHECK_BTN_ALL(input->press.button, BTN_A) &&
+                        (gSaveContext.eventChkInf[4] & 1)) {
                         Audio_PlaySoundGeneral(NA_SE_SY_DECIDE, &D_801333D4, 4, &D_801333E0, &D_801333E0, &D_801333E8);
                         gSelectingMask = !gSelectingMask;
                     }