diff --git a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
index 69958e5ec..1f281f47c 100644
--- a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
+++ b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.1614 $ $NHDT-Date: 1769342601 2026/01/25 04:03:21 $
+NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.1649 $ $NHDT-Date: 1777000050 2026/04/23 19:07:30 $
 
 General Fixes and Modified Features
 -----------------------------------
@@ -1598,6 +1598,10 @@ prevent selecting all options in #optionsfull menu
 shapeshifters change shape less
 rolling boulder traps aren't removed when stepped on and move boulders
         pushed onto them
+when starting a new game as a monk, newsym(0,0) was being called (adjabil ->
+	postadjabil -> see_monsters when initializing See_invisible as hero
+	became level 1; seen 'monster' was the hero who hadn't been placed
+	on the map yet)
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x General Problems Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/src/attrib.c b/src/attrib.c
index 23e8117c7..27f454fd8 100644
--- a/src/attrib.c
+++ b/src/attrib.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.7	attrib.c	$NHDT-Date: 1754979443 2025/08/11 22:17:23 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.134 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.7	attrib.c	$NHDT-Date: 1777000050 2026/04/23 19:07:30 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.137 $ */
 /*      Copyright 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, M. Stephenson           */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ static const struct innate {
 staticfn void exerper(void);
 staticfn int rnd_attr(void);
 staticfn int init_attr_role_redist(int, boolean);
-staticfn void postadjabil(long *);
+staticfn void postadjabil(long *) NONNULLARG1;
 staticfn const struct innate *role_abil(int);
 staticfn const struct innate *check_innate_abil(long *, long);
 staticfn int innately(long *);
@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ staticfn
 void
 postadjabil(long *ability)
 {
-    if (!ability)
+    if (!u.ulevel) /* initializing hero; don't attempt screen update yet */
         return;
     if (ability == &(HWarning) || ability == &(HSee_invisible))
         see_monsters();
diff --git a/src/display.c b/src/display.c
index 5f854c64d..d3241ce9f 100644
--- a/src/display.c
+++ b/src/display.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.7	display.c	$NHDT-Date: 1745114235 2025/04/19 17:57:15 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.260 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.7	display.c	$NHDT-Date: 1777000050 2026/04/23 19:07:30 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.263 $ */
 /* Copyright (c) Dean Luick, with acknowledgements to Kevin Darcy */
 /* and Dave Cohrs, 1990.                                          */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
@@ -753,10 +753,9 @@ feel_location(coordxy x, coordxy y)
     /* replicate safeguards used by newsym(); might not be required here */
     if (_suppress_map_output())
         return;
-
     if (!isok(x, y))
         return;
-    lev = &(levl[x][y]);
+    lev = &levl[x][y];
     /* If hero's memory of an invisible monster is accurate, we want to keep
      * him from detecting the same monster over and over again on each turn.
      * We must return (so we don't erase the monster).  (We must also, in the
@@ -917,15 +916,24 @@ feel_location(coordxy x, coordxy y)
 void
 newsym(coordxy x, coordxy y)
 {
+    struct rm *lev;
+    struct engr *ep;
     struct monst *mon;
     int see_it;
     boolean worm_tail;
-    struct rm *lev = &(levl[x][y]);
-    struct engr *ep;
 
     /* don't try to produce map output when level is in a state of flux */
     if (_suppress_map_output())
         return;
+    /* should never happen; same error handling as u_on_newpos() */
+    if (!isok(x, y)) {
+        void (*errfunc)(const char *, ...) PRINTF_F_PTR(1, 2);
+
+        errfunc = (x < 0 || y < 0 || x > COLNO - 1 || y > ROWNO - 1) ? panic
+                  : impossible; /* misuse of column 0 is less severe */
+        (*errfunc)("newsym: attempting screen update for <%d,%d>", x, y);
+        return;
+    }
 
     /* only permit updating the hero when swallowed */
     if (u.uswallow) {
@@ -939,6 +947,7 @@ newsym(coordxy x, coordxy y)
         if (!(is_pool_or_lava(x, y) || is_ice(x, y)) || !next2u(x, y))
             return;
     }
+    lev = &levl[x][y];
 
     /* Can physically see the location. */
     if (cansee(x, y)) {