diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/entities/comp/BuildingComp.java b/core/src/mindustry/entities/comp/BuildingComp.java
index ce23b0e4e9..9efa9120d2 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/entities/comp/BuildingComp.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/entities/comp/BuildingComp.java
@@ -510,6 +510,7 @@ abstract class BuildingComp implements Posc, Teamc, Healthc, Buildingc, Timerc,
 
     public void created(){}
 
+    /** @return whether this block is currently "active" and should be consuming requirements. */
     public boolean shouldConsume(){
         return enabled;
     }
@@ -518,6 +519,11 @@ abstract class BuildingComp implements Posc, Teamc, Healthc, Buildingc, Timerc,
         return true;
     }
 
+    /** @return whether this building is currently "burning" a trigger consumer (an item) - if true, valid() on those will return true. */
+    public boolean consumeTriggerValid(){
+        return false;
+    }
+
     public float getPowerProduction(){
         return 0f;
     }
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/world/blocks/power/ConsumeGenerator.java b/core/src/mindustry/world/blocks/power/ConsumeGenerator.java
index 464e8e1d08..4db25f5681 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/world/blocks/power/ConsumeGenerator.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/world/blocks/power/ConsumeGenerator.java
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import mindustry.world.meta.*;
 
 /**
  * A generator that just takes in certain items or liquids. Basically SingleTypeGenerator, but not unreliable garbage.
- * TODO at the moment, these generators require at least one item in their inventory to work, meaning they cannot be "kickstarted" with only one item.
  */
 public class ConsumeGenerator extends PowerGenerator{
     /** The time in number of ticks during which a single item will produce power. */
@@ -72,9 +71,6 @@ public class ConsumeGenerator extends PowerGenerator{
             productionEfficiency = valid ? 1f : 0f;
             totalTime += warmup * Time.delta;
 
-            //generation time always goes down
-            generateTime -= Math.min(1f / itemDuration * delta(), generateTime);
-
             //randomly produce the effect
             if(valid && Mathf.chanceDelta(effectChance)){
                 generateEffect.at(x + Mathf.range(generateEffectRange), y + Mathf.range(generateEffectRange));
@@ -82,7 +78,7 @@ public class ConsumeGenerator extends PowerGenerator{
 
             //take in items periodically
             if(hasItems && valid && generateTime <= 0f && items.any()){
-                cons.trigger();
+                consume();
                 generateTime = 1f;
             }
 
@@ -91,6 +87,14 @@ public class ConsumeGenerator extends PowerGenerator{
                 liquids.add(liquidOutput.liquid, added);
                 dumpLiquid(liquidOutput.liquid);
             }
+
+            //generation time always goes down, but only at the end so consumeTriggerValid doesn't assume fake items
+            generateTime -= Math.min(1f / itemDuration * delta(), generateTime);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public boolean consumeTriggerValid(){
+            return generateTime > 0;
         }
 
         @Override
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemDynamic.java b/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemDynamic.java
index 8dce26c0f8..b94d11d15c 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemDynamic.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemDynamic.java
@@ -54,6 +54,6 @@ public class ConsumeItemDynamic extends Consume{
 
     @Override
     public boolean valid(Building build){
-        return build.items != null && build.items.has(items.get(build));
+        return build.consumeTriggerValid() || build.items.has(items.get(build));
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemFilter.java b/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemFilter.java
index 7eb98ace27..d3db733117 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemFilter.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItemFilter.java
@@ -53,9 +53,11 @@ public class ConsumeItemFilter extends Consume{
 
     @Override
     public boolean valid(Building build){
+        if(build.consumeTriggerValid()) return true;
+
         for(int i = 0; i < content.items().size; i++){
             Item item = content.item(i);
-            if(build.items != null && build.items.has(item) && this.filter.get(item)){
+            if(this.filter.get(item) && build.items.has(item)){
                 return true;
             }
         }
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItems.java b/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItems.java
index d0c1226bfc..90f1c4fd85 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItems.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/world/consumers/ConsumeItems.java
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ public class ConsumeItems extends Consume{
 
     @Override
     public boolean valid(Building build){
-        return build.items != null && build.items.has(items);
+        return build.consumeTriggerValid() || build.items.has(items);
     }
 
     @Override