diff --git a/fs_edit_effects.lua b/fs_edit_effects.lua
index 2ea2693..4d89e18 100644
--- a/fs_edit_effects.lua
+++ b/fs_edit_effects.lua
@@ -454,19 +454,39 @@ yl_speak_up.execute_effect = function(player, n_id, o_id, r)
 			-- quest_step and maximum are effectively the same
 			-- TODO: later on, quest steps may be strings
 			local var_val = yl_speak_up.get_quest_variable_value(pname, r.r_variable)
-			new_value = math.max(var_val, r.r_var_cmp_value)
+			if(var_value) then
+				new_value = math.max(var_val, r.r_var_cmp_value)
+			else
+				new_value = r.r_var_cmp_value
+			end
 		elseif(r.r_operator and r.r_operator == "maximum") then
 			local var_val = yl_speak_up.get_quest_variable_value(pname, r.r_variable)
-			new_value = math.max(var_val, r.r_var_cmp_value)
+			if(var_value) then
+				new_value = math.max(var_val, r.r_var_cmp_value)
+			else
+				new_value = r.r_var_cmp_value
+			end
 		elseif(r.r_operator and r.r_operator == "minimum") then
 			local var_val = yl_speak_up.get_quest_variable_value(pname, r.r_variable)
-			new_value = math.min(var_val, r.r_var_cmp_value)
+			if(var_value) then
+				new_value = math.min(var_val, r.r_var_cmp_value)
+			else
+				new_value = r.r_var_cmp_value
+			end
 		elseif(r.r_operator and r.r_operator == "increment") then
 			local var_val = yl_speak_up.get_quest_variable_value(pname, r.r_variable)
-			new_value = var_val + r.r_var_cmp_value
+			if(var_value) then
+				new_value = var_val + r.r_var_cmp_value
+			else
+				new_value = r.r_var_cmp_value
+			end
 		elseif(r.r_operator and r.r_operator == "decrement") then
 			local var_val = yl_speak_up.get_quest_variable_value(pname, r.r_variable)
-			new_value = var_val - r.r_var_cmp_value
+			if(var_value) then
+				new_value = var_val + r.r_var_cmp_value
+			else
+				new_value = -1 * r.r_var_cmp_value
+			end
 		else
 			yl_speak_up.debug_msg(player, n_id, o_id, tostring(r.r_id).." "..
 				"state: Unsupported type: "..tostring(r.r_value)..".")