diff --git a/src/invent.c b/src/invent.c
index 131f5e80d..05daf9dde 100644
--- a/src/invent.c
+++ b/src/invent.c
@@ -945,8 +945,10 @@ register const char *let,*word;
 		    ilet = display_pickinv(allowed_choices, TRUE,
 					   allowcnt ? &ctmp : (long *)0);
 		    if(!ilet) continue;
-		    if (ctmp) {
+		    pline("got count %ld", ctmp);
+		    if (ctmp >= 0) {
 			cnt = ctmp;
+			if (!cnt) prezero = TRUE;
 			allowcnt = 2;
 		    }
 		    if(ilet == '\033') {