diff --git a/src/mutation.cpp b/src/mutation.cpp
index 19451fc063178..6c198d909a79f 100644
--- a/src/mutation.cpp
+++ b/src/mutation.cpp
@@ -2364,12 +2364,11 @@ void Character::customize_appearance( customize_appearance_choice choice )
                 char_has_trait = true;
             }
 
-            const std::string &entry_name = mutation_name( trait );
+            const std::string has_it = char_has_trait ? " *" : "";
 
             amenu.addentry(
                 i, true, MENU_AUTOASSIGN,
-                char_has_trait ? entry_name + " *" : entry_name
-            );
+                trait->variants.empty() ? mutation_name( trait ) + has_it : trait->name() + has_it );
         }
     };
 
@@ -2415,7 +2414,12 @@ void Character::customize_appearance( customize_appearance_choice choice )
         if( has_trait( current_trait ) ) {
             remove_mutation( current_trait );
         }
-        set_mutation( trait_selected );
+        if( !trait_selected->variants.empty() ) {
+            const mutation_variant *variant = trait_selected->pick_variant_menu();
+            set_mutation( trait_selected, variant );
+        } else {
+            set_mutation( trait_selected );
+        }
         if( one_in( 3 ) ) {
             add_msg( m_neutral, end_message );
         }