diff --git a/.github/workflows/gradle.yml b/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
index 03ea15674..031e801c2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/gradle.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
     if: endswith(github.ref_name, 'master') && github.ref_protected && github.ref_type == 'branch'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
-      APPVEYOR_BUILD_VERSION: '3.0.1'
+      APPVEYOR_BUILD_VERSION: '3.0.2'
       CURSETOKEN: ${{ secrets.CURSETOKEN }}
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index fc874e8a7..6e5ec4782 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.16.5 - 3.0.2]
+
+fix: linking crash
+
 ## [1.16.5 - 3.0.1]
 
 fix: ServerStartup issue
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/init/OSItems.java b/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/init/OSItems.java
index 8d4d712a6..ce06153a0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/init/OSItems.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/init/OSItems.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import net.minecraft.item.Item.Properties;
 import net.minecraft.item.ItemGroup;
 import net.minecraft.util.ResourceLocation;
+import net.minecraft.util.math.BlockPos;
 import net.minecraftforge.event.RegistryEvent;
 import net.minecraftforge.eventbus.api.SubscribeEvent;
 import net.minecraftforge.registries.IForgeRegistry;
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ private OSItems() {
     }, _u -> true, (level, pos, tag) -> {
         final BlockState state = level.getBlockState(pos);
         final NBTWrapper wrapper = new NBTWrapper(tag);
-        wrapper.putString(pos.toShortString(), state.getBlock().getRegistryName().getPath());
+        wrapper.putString(readStringFromPos(pos), state.getBlock().getRegistryName().getPath());
     });
     public static final MultiLinkingTool MULTI_LINKING_TOOL = new MultiLinkingTool(OSTabs.TAB,
             (world, pos) -> {
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ private OSItems() {
             }, _u -> true, (level, pos, tag) -> {
                 final BlockState state = level.getBlockState(pos);
                 final NBTWrapper wrapper = new NBTWrapper(tag);
-                wrapper.putString(pos.toShortString(),
+                wrapper.putString(readStringFromPos(pos),
                         state.getBlock().getRegistryName().getPath());
             });
     public static final Item CONDUCTOR_TROWEL_GREEN = new Item(
@@ -158,4 +159,7 @@ public static void registerItem(final RegistryEvent.Register<Item> event) {
         registeredItems.forEach(registry::register);
     }
 
+    public static String readStringFromPos(final BlockPos pos) {
+        return "[x=" + pos.getX() + ",y=" + pos.getY() + ",z=" + pos.getZ() + "]";
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/signalbox/SignalBoxTileEntity.java b/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/signalbox/SignalBoxTileEntity.java
index 3a6dbdc41..ab83619e9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/signalbox/SignalBoxTileEntity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/signalbox/SignalBoxTileEntity.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import com.troblecodings.signals.handler.SignalStateHandler;
 import com.troblecodings.signals.handler.SignalStateInfo;
 import com.troblecodings.signals.init.OSBlocks;
+import com.troblecodings.signals.init.OSItems;
 import com.troblecodings.signals.signalbox.debug.SignalBoxFactory;
 import com.troblecodings.signals.tileentitys.SyncableTileEntity;
 
@@ -70,8 +71,8 @@ public boolean hasLink() {
     @Override
     public boolean link(final BlockPos pos, final CompoundNBT tag) {
         @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
-        final Block block = Registry.BLOCK.get(
-                new ResourceLocation(OpenSignalsMain.MODID, tag.getString(pos.toShortString())));
+        final Block block = Registry.BLOCK.get(new ResourceLocation(OpenSignalsMain.MODID,
+                tag.getString(OSItems.readStringFromPos(pos))));
         if (block == null || block instanceof AirBlock)
             return false;
         LinkType type = LinkType.SIGNAL;
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/tileentitys/SignalControllerTileEntity.java b/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/tileentitys/SignalControllerTileEntity.java
index 585f23374..44cedfa0b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/tileentitys/SignalControllerTileEntity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/troblecodings/signals/tileentitys/SignalControllerTileEntity.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import com.troblecodings.signals.enums.EnumState;
 import com.troblecodings.signals.handler.SignalStateHandler;
 import com.troblecodings.signals.handler.SignalStateInfo;
+import com.troblecodings.signals.init.OSItems;
 
 import net.minecraft.block.Block;
 import net.minecraft.entity.player.PlayerEntity;
@@ -259,7 +260,7 @@ public boolean hasLink() {
     public boolean link(final BlockPos pos, final CompoundNBT tag) {
         @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
         final Block block = Registry.BLOCK.get(
-                new ResourceLocation(OpenSignalsMain.MODID, tag.getString(pos.toShortString())));
+                new ResourceLocation(OpenSignalsMain.MODID, tag.getString(OSItems.readStringFromPos(pos))));
         if (block != null && block instanceof Signal) {
             unlink();
             linkedSignalPosition = pos;