script keeps returning nil even if the specified value exists?

wait(0.5)
local char = script.Parent
local oldval = game.ReplicatedStorage:FindFirstChild("TpVal"..char.Name)



if oldval ~= nil then
    print("not nil")
    script.Parent.RestorePlrHomePos.Disabled = false
    wait(0.1)
    script.Parent.TpPosServerSync.Disabled = false
    wait()
    script.Disabled = true
end


if oldval == nil then
    print("nil")
    local tpval = Instance.new("Vector3Value")
tpval.Name = "HomeTp:"..char.Name
tpval.Parent = game.ReplicatedStorage
script.Parent.TpPosServerSync.Disabled = false
wait()
script.Disabled = true
end

here is my problem: this script first checks in replicatedstorage for a value with "TpVal (characters name)" if its not there it runs the bottom portion of the script, if it is there then it runs the upper portion. the problem is even if the value IS there it always returns nil rather than not nil.