diff --git a/doc/fixes36.2 b/doc/fixes36.2
index 15d5b2d6d..53ba866ea 100644
--- a/doc/fixes36.2
+++ b/doc/fixes36.2
@@ -275,6 +275,8 @@ Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes or Features
 -----------------------------------------------------
 move 'perm_invent' value from flags to iflags to keep it out of save files;
 	affects X11, win32, and curses
+always define shell and suspend commands so that key bindings copied from one
+	platform to another work even if second one disables those commands
 windows-gui: In nethackw, there could be conflicts between menu accelerators 
 	and an extra choice accelerator to fix H7132.
 windows-gui: recognize new BL_RESET in status_update; no change in behavior yet
diff --git a/include/flag.h b/include/flag.h
index 956de39f0..0623ec526 100644
--- a/include/flag.h
+++ b/include/flag.h
@@ -369,8 +369,6 @@ struct instance_flags {
     boolean wizweight;       /* display weight of everything in wizard mode */
     boolean cmdassist;       /* provide detailed assistance for some commands */
     boolean clicklook;          /* allow right-clicking for look */
-    boolean msg_is_alert;    /* suggest windowport should grab player's attention
-                              * and request <TAB> acknowlegement */
     int statuslines;         /* default = 2, code support for alternative 3 */
     /*
      * Window capability support.
diff --git a/include/func_tab.h b/include/func_tab.h
index 14460c926..79daef1de 100644
--- a/include/func_tab.h
+++ b/include/func_tab.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.6	func_tab.h	$NHDT-Date: 1432512775 2015/05/25 00:12:55 $  $NHDT-Branch: master $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.8 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.6	func_tab.h	$NHDT-Date: 1543797823 2018/12/03 00:43:43 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6.2-beta01 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.11 $ */
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /*-Copyright (c) Pasi Kallinen, 2016. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #define AUTOCOMPLETE 0x02 /* command autocompletes */
 #define WIZMODECMD   0x04 /* wizard-mode command */
 #define GENERALCMD   0x08 /* general command, does not take game time */
+#define CMD_NOT_AVAILABLE 0x10 /* recognized but non-functional (!SHELL,&c) */
 
 struct ext_func_tab {
     uchar key;
diff --git a/src/cmd.c b/src/cmd.c
index 20327366c..92b2fc0d2 100644
--- a/src/cmd.c
+++ b/src/cmd.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.6	cmd.c	$NHDT-Date: 1543711385 2018/12/02 00:43:05 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6.2-beta01 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.309 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.6	cmd.c	$NHDT-Date: 1543797825 2018/12/03 00:43:45 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6.2-beta01 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.312 $ */
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /*-Copyright (c) Robert Patrick Rankin, 2013. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
@@ -126,10 +126,10 @@ extern int NDECL(dozap);              /**/
 extern int NDECL(doorganize);         /**/
 #endif /* DUMB */
 
-static int NDECL(dosuspend_core); /**/
-
 static int NDECL((*timed_occ_fn));
 
+STATIC_PTR int NDECL(dosuspend_core);
+STATIC_PTR int NDECL(dosh_core);
 STATIC_PTR int NDECL(doherecmdmenu);
 STATIC_PTR int NDECL(dotherecmdmenu);
 STATIC_PTR int NDECL(doprev_message);
@@ -194,9 +194,6 @@ STATIC_DCL void FDECL(one_characteristic, (int, int, int));
 STATIC_DCL void FDECL(status_enlightenment, (int, int));
 STATIC_DCL void FDECL(attributes_enlightenment, (int, int));
 
-static const char *readchar_queue = "";
-static coord clicklook_cc;
-
 STATIC_DCL void FDECL(add_herecmd_menuitem, (winid, int NDECL((*)),
                                              const char *));
 STATIC_DCL char FDECL(here_cmd_menu, (BOOLEAN_P));
@@ -205,6 +202,13 @@ STATIC_DCL char *NDECL(parse);
 STATIC_DCL void FDECL(show_direction_keys, (winid, CHAR_P, BOOLEAN_P));
 STATIC_DCL boolean FDECL(help_dir, (CHAR_P, int, const char *));
 
+static const char *readchar_queue = "";
+static coord clicklook_cc;
+/* for rejecting attempts to use wizard mode commands */
+static const char unavailcmd[] = "Unavailable command '%s'.";
+/* for rejecting #if !SHELL, !SUSPEND */
+static const char cmdnotavail[] = "'%s' command not available.";
+
 STATIC_PTR int
 doprev_message(VOID_ARGS)
 {
@@ -438,6 +442,8 @@ doextlist(VOID_ARGS)
             for (efp = extcmdlist; efp->ef_txt; efp++) {
                 int wizc;
 
+                if ((efp->flags & CMD_NOT_AVAILABLE) != 0)
+                    continue;
                 /* if hiding non-autocomplete commands, skip such */
                 if (menumode == 1 && (efp->flags & AUTOCOMPLETE) == 0)
                     continue;
@@ -567,7 +573,8 @@ extcmd_via_menu()
         any = zeroany;
         /* populate choices */
         for (efp = extcmdlist; efp->ef_txt; efp++) {
-            if (!(efp->flags & AUTOCOMPLETE)
+            if ((efp->flags & CMD_NOT_AVAILABLE)
+                || !(efp->flags & AUTOCOMPLETE)
                 || (!wizard && (efp->flags & WIZMODECMD)))
                 continue;
             if (!matchlevel || !strncmp(efp->ef_txt, cbuf, matchlevel)) {
@@ -763,8 +770,7 @@ wiz_wish(VOID_ARGS) /* Unlimited wishes for debug mode by Paul Polderman */
         flags.verbose = save_verbose;
         (void) encumber_msg();
     } else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_wish)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_wish)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -784,8 +790,7 @@ wiz_identify(VOID_ARGS)
         (void) display_inventory((char *) 0, FALSE);
         iflags.override_ID = 0;
     } else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_identify)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_identify)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -840,8 +845,7 @@ wiz_map(VOID_ARGS)
         HConfusion = save_Hconf;
         HHallucination = save_Hhallu;
     } else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_map)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_map)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -852,8 +856,7 @@ wiz_genesis(VOID_ARGS)
     if (wizard)
         (void) create_particular();
     else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_genesis)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_genesis)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -864,8 +867,7 @@ wiz_where(VOID_ARGS)
     if (wizard)
         (void) print_dungeon(FALSE, (schar *) 0, (xchar *) 0);
     else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_where)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_where)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -876,8 +878,7 @@ wiz_detect(VOID_ARGS)
     if (wizard)
         (void) findit();
     else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_detect)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_detect)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -888,8 +889,7 @@ wiz_level_tele(VOID_ARGS)
     if (wizard)
         level_tele();
     else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_level_tele)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_level_tele)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1444,8 +1444,7 @@ wiz_intrinsic(VOID_ARGS)
             free((genericptr_t) pick_list);
         doredraw();
     } else
-        pline("Unavailable command '%s'.",
-              visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_intrinsic)));
+        pline(unavailcmd, visctrl((int) cmd_from_func(wiz_intrinsic)));
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -3304,16 +3303,21 @@ struct ext_func_tab extcmdlist[] = {
     { '^', "seetrap", "show the type of adjacent trap", doidtrap, IFBURIED },
     { WEAPON_SYM, "seeweapon", "show the weapon currently wielded",
             doprwep, IFBURIED },
-#ifdef SHELL
-    { '!', "shell", "do a shell escape", dosh, IFBURIED | GENERALCMD },
+    { '!', "shell", "do a shell escape",
+            dosh_core, IFBURIED | GENERALCMD
+#ifndef SHELL
+                       | CMD_NOT_AVAILABLE
 #endif /* SHELL */
+    },
     { M('s'), "sit", "sit down", dosit, AUTOCOMPLETE },
     { '\0', "stats", "show memory statistics",
             wiz_show_stats, IFBURIED | AUTOCOMPLETE | WIZMODECMD },
-#ifdef SUSPEND
     { C('z'), "suspend", "suspend the game",
-            dosuspend_core, IFBURIED | GENERALCMD },
+            dosuspend_core, IFBURIED | GENERALCMD
+#ifndef SUSPEND
+                            | CMD_NOT_AVAILABLE
 #endif /* SUSPEND */
+    },
     { 'x', "swap", "swap wielded and secondary weapons", doswapweapon },
     { 'T', "takeoff", "take off one piece of armor", dotakeoff },
     { 'A', "takeoffall", "remove all armor", doddoremarm },
@@ -3407,6 +3411,14 @@ const char *command;
         if (strcmp(command, extcmd->ef_txt))
             continue;
         Cmd.commands[key] = extcmd;
+#if 0 /* silently accept key binding for unavailable command (!SHELL,&c) */
+        if ((extcmd->flags & CMD_NOT_AVAILABLE) != 0) {
+            char buf[BUFSZ];
+
+            Sprintf(buf, cmdnotavail, extcmd->ef_txt);
+            config_error_add("%s", buf);
+        }
+#endif
         return TRUE;
     }
 
@@ -5504,10 +5516,7 @@ parse()
     if (iflags.debug_fuzzer /* if fuzzing, override '!' and ^Z */
         && (Cmd.commands[foo & 0x0ff]
             && (Cmd.commands[foo & 0x0ff]->ef_funct == dosuspend_core
-#ifdef SHELL
-                || Cmd.commands[foo & 0x0ff]->ef_funct == dosh
-#endif
-                )))
+                || Cmd.commands[foo & 0x0ff]->ef_funct == dosh_core)))
         foo = Cmd.spkeys[NHKF_ESC];
 
     if (foo == Cmd.spkeys[NHKF_ESC]) { /* esc cancels count (TH) */
@@ -5666,15 +5675,22 @@ readchar()
     return (char) sym;
 }
 
+/* '_' command, #travel, via keyboard rather than mouse click */
 STATIC_PTR int
 dotravel(VOID_ARGS)
 {
-    /* Keyboard travel command */
     static char cmd[2];
     coord cc;
 
+    /* [FIXME?  Supporting the ability to disable traveling via mouse
+       click makes some sense, depending upon overall mouse usage.
+       Disabling '_' on a user by user basis makes no sense at all since
+       even if it is typed by accident, aborting when picking a target
+       destination is trivial.  Travel via mouse predates travel via '_',
+       and this use of OPTION=!travel is probably just a mistake....] */
     if (!flags.travelcmd)
         return 0;
+
     cmd[1] = 0;
     cc.x = iflags.travelcc.x;
     cc.y = iflags.travelcc.y;
@@ -5789,8 +5805,9 @@ const char *prompt;
     return confirmed_ok;
 }
 
-int
-dosuspend_core()
+/* ^Z command, #suspend */
+STATIC_PTR int
+dosuspend_core(VOID_ARGS)
 {
 #ifdef SUSPEND
     /* Does current window system support suspend? */
@@ -5799,7 +5816,20 @@ dosuspend_core()
         dosuspend();
     } else
 #endif
-        Norep("Suspend command not available.");
+        Norep(cmdnotavail, "#suspend");
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* '!' command, #shell */
+STATIC_PTR int
+dosh_core(VOID_ARGS)
+{
+#ifdef SHELL
+    /* access restrictions, if any, are handled in port code */
+    dosh();
+#else
+    Norep(cmdnotavail, "#shell");
+#endif
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/win/curses/cursdial.c b/win/curses/cursdial.c
index 7393610bd..99e5eb830 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursdial.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursdial.c
@@ -419,6 +419,8 @@ curses_ext_cmd()
             ret = -1;
         }
         for (count = 0; extcmdlist[count].ef_txt; count++) {
+            if (!wizard && (extcmdlist[count].flags & WIZMODECMD))
+                continue;
             if (!(extcmdlist[count].flags & AUTOCOMPLETE))
                 continue;
             if (strlen(extcmdlist[count].ef_txt) > (size_t) prompt_width) {
@@ -508,6 +510,12 @@ curses_add_nhmenu_item(winid wid, int glyph, const ANY_P * identifier,
     nhmenu_item *new_item, *current_items, *menu_item_ptr;
     nhmenu *current_menu = get_menu(wid);
 
+    if (current_menu == NULL) {
+        impossible
+            ("curses_add_nhmenu_item: attempt to add item to nonexistent menu");
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (str == NULL) {
         return;
     }
@@ -530,11 +538,6 @@ curses_add_nhmenu_item(winid wid, int glyph, const ANY_P * identifier,
     new_item->count = -1;
     new_item->next_item = NULL;
 
-    if (current_menu == NULL) {
-        panic
-            ("curses_add_nhmenu_item: attempt to add item to nonexistant menu");
-    }
-
     current_items = current_menu->entries;
     menu_item_ptr = current_items;
 
@@ -559,12 +562,13 @@ curses_finalize_nhmenu(winid wid, const char *prompt)
 {
     int count = 0;
     nhmenu *current_menu = get_menu(wid);
-    nhmenu_item *menu_item_ptr = current_menu->entries;
 
     if (current_menu == NULL) {
-        panic("curses_finalize_nhmenu: attempt to finalize nonexistant menu");
+        impossible("curses_finalize_nhmenu: attempt to finalize nonexistent menu");
+        return;
     }
 
+    nhmenu_item *menu_item_ptr = current_menu->entries;
     while (menu_item_ptr != NULL) {
         menu_item_ptr = menu_item_ptr->next_item;
         count++;
@@ -590,13 +594,15 @@ curses_display_nhmenu(winid wid, int how, MENU_ITEM_P ** _selected)
     *_selected = NULL;
 
     if (current_menu == NULL) {
-        panic("curses_display_nhmenu: attempt to display nonexistant menu");
+        impossible("curses_display_nhmenu: attempt to display nonexistent menu");
+        return '\033';
     }
 
     menu_item_ptr = current_menu->entries;
 
     if (menu_item_ptr == NULL) {
-        panic("curses_display_nhmenu: attempt to display empty menu");
+        impossible("curses_display_nhmenu: attempt to display empty menu");
+        return '\033';
     }
 
     /* Reset items to unselected to clear out selections from previous
@@ -631,8 +637,9 @@ curses_display_nhmenu(winid wid, int how, MENU_ITEM_P ** _selected)
         while (menu_item_ptr != NULL) {
             if (menu_item_ptr->selected) {
                 if (count == num_chosen) {
-                    panic("curses_display_nhmenu: Selected items "
+                    impossible("curses_display_nhmenu: Selected items "
                           "exceeds expected number");
+                     break;
                 }
                 selected[count].item = menu_item_ptr->identifier;
                 selected[count].count = menu_item_ptr->count;
@@ -642,7 +649,7 @@ curses_display_nhmenu(winid wid, int how, MENU_ITEM_P ** _selected)
         }
 
         if (count != num_chosen) {
-            panic("curses_display_nhmenu: Selected items less than "
+            impossible("curses_display_nhmenu: Selected items less than "
                   "expected number");
         }
     }
@@ -949,7 +956,8 @@ menu_display_page(nhmenu *menu, WINDOW * win, int page_num)
     }
 
     if (menu_item_ptr == NULL) {        /* Page not found */
-        panic("menu_display_page: attempt to display nonexistant page");
+        impossible("menu_display_page: attempt to display nonexistent page");
+        return;
     }
 
     werase(win);
@@ -1343,7 +1351,8 @@ menu_operation(WINDOW * win, nhmenu *menu, menu_op
     }
 
     if (menu_item_ptr == NULL) {        /* Page not found */
-        panic("menu_display_page: attempt to display nonexistant page");
+        impossible("menu_display_page: attempt to display nonexistent page");
+        return 0;
     }
 
     while (menu_item_ptr != NULL) {
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmesg.c b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
index df45d07b8..ef351a27a 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmesg.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
@@ -148,18 +148,13 @@ curses_block(boolean noscroll)
 
     curses_get_window_size(MESSAGE_WIN, &height, &width);
     curses_toggle_color_attr(win, MORECOLOR, NONE, ON);
-    mvwprintw(win, my, mx, iflags.msg_is_alert ? "<TAB!>" : ">>");
+    mvwprintw(win, my, mx, ">>");
     curses_toggle_color_attr(win, MORECOLOR, NONE, OFF);
-    if (iflags.msg_is_alert)
-        curses_alert_main_borders(TRUE);
     wrefresh(win);
-    while (iflags.msg_is_alert && (ret = wgetch(win) != '\t'));
     /* msgtype=stop should require space/enter rather than
      * just any key, as we want to prevent YASD from
      * riding direction keys. */
-    while (!iflags.msg_is_alert && (ret = wgetch(win)) && !index(resp,(char)ret));
-    if (iflags.msg_is_alert)
-        curses_alert_main_borders(FALSE);
+    while ((ret = wgetch(win)) && !index(resp,(char)ret));
     if (height == 1) {
         curses_clear_unhighlight_message_window();
     } else {
@@ -298,8 +293,8 @@ curses_prev_mesg()
 }
 
 
-/* Shows Count: in a separate window, or at the bottom of the message
-window, depending on the user's settings */
+/* Shows Count: at the bottom of the message window,
+   popup_dialog is not currently implemented for this function */
 
 void
 curses_count_window(const char *count_text)
@@ -317,43 +312,31 @@ curses_count_window(const char *count_text)
 
     counting = TRUE;
 
-    if (iflags.wc_popup_dialog) {       /* Display count in popup window */
-        startx = 1;
-        starty = 1;
+    curses_get_window_xy(MESSAGE_WIN, &winx, &winy);
+    curses_get_window_size(MESSAGE_WIN, &messageh, &messagew);
 
-        if (countwin == NULL) {
-            countwin = curses_create_window(25, 1, UP);
-        }
-
-    } else {                    /* Display count at bottom of message window */
-
-        curses_get_window_xy(MESSAGE_WIN, &winx, &winy);
-        curses_get_window_size(MESSAGE_WIN, &messageh, &messagew);
-
-        if (curses_window_has_border(MESSAGE_WIN)) {
-            winx++;
-            winy++;
-        }
-
-        winy += messageh - 1;
-
-        if (countwin == NULL) {
-            pline("#");
-#ifndef PDCURSES
-            countwin = newwin(1, 25, winy, winx);
-#endif /* !PDCURSES */
-        }
-#ifdef PDCURSES
-        else {
-            curses_destroy_win(countwin);
-        }
-
-        countwin = newwin(1, 25, winy, winx);
-#endif /* PDCURSES */
-        startx = 0;
-        starty = 0;
+    if (curses_window_has_border(MESSAGE_WIN)) {
+        winx++;
+        winy++;
     }
 
+    winy += messageh - 1;
+
+    if (countwin == NULL) {
+#ifndef PDCURSES
+        countwin = newwin(1, 25, winy, winx);
+#endif /* !PDCURSES */
+    }
+#ifdef PDCURSES
+    else {
+        curses_destroy_win(countwin);
+    }
+
+    countwin = newwin(1, 25, winy, winx);
+#endif /* PDCURSES */
+    startx = 0;
+    starty = 0;
+
     mvwprintw(countwin, starty, startx, "%s", count_text);
     wrefresh(countwin);
 }
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmisc.c b/win/curses/cursmisc.c
index 00e055c10..8ee1f68fe 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmisc.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmisc.c
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ curses_toggle_color_attr(WINDOW * win, int color, int attr, int onoff)
     }
 
     /* GUI color disabled */
-    /*  if ((!iflags.wc2_guicolor) && (win != mapwin)) {
-          return;
-    } */
+    if ((!iflags.wc2_guicolor) && (win != mapwin)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     if (color == 0) {           /* make black fg visible */
 # ifdef USE_DARKGRAY
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ curses_toggle_color_attr(WINDOW * win, int color, int attr, int onoff)
             if (can_change_color() && (COLORS > 16)) {
                 /* colorpair for black is already darkgray */
             } else {            /* Use bold for a bright black */
-
                 wattron(win, A_BOLD);
             }
         } else
@@ -188,8 +187,8 @@ curses_get_wid(int type)
         ret = text_wid;
         break;
     default:
-        panic("curses_get_wid: unsupported window type");
-        ret = -1;               /* Not reached */
+        impossible("curses_get_wid: unsupported window type");
+        ret = -1;
     }
 
     while (curses_window_exists(ret)) {
diff --git a/win/curses/curswins.c b/win/curses/curswins.c
index 4eaafa207..017450830 100644
--- a/win/curses/curswins.c
+++ b/win/curses/curswins.c
@@ -78,9 +78,15 @@ curses_create_window(int width, int height, orient orientation)
     width += 2;                 /* leave room for bounding box */
     height += 2;
 
-    if ((width > term_cols) || (height > term_rows))
-        panic("curses_create_window: Terminal too small for dialog window");
+    if ((width > term_cols) || (height > term_rows)) {
+        impossible("curses_create_window: Terminal too small for dialog window");
+        width = term_cols;
+        height = term_rows;
+    }
     switch (orientation) {
+    default:
+        impossible("curses_create_window: Bad orientation");
+        /* fall through to centre */
     case CENTER:
         startx = (term_cols / 2) - (width / 2);
         starty = (term_rows / 2) - (height / 2);
@@ -119,9 +125,6 @@ curses_create_window(int width, int height, orient orientation)
 
         starty = 0;
         break;
-    default:
-        panic("curses_create_window: Bad orientation");
-        break;
     }
 
     if (startx < 0) {
@@ -190,7 +193,8 @@ WINDOW *
 curses_get_nhwin(winid wid)
 {
     if (!is_main_window(wid)) {
-        panic("curses_get_nhwin: wid out of range. Not a main window.");
+        impossible("curses_get_nhwin: wid %d out of range. Not a main window.", wid);
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     return nhwins[wid].curwin;
@@ -208,7 +212,8 @@ curses_add_nhwin(winid wid, int height, int width, int y, int x,
     int real_height = height;
 
     if (!is_main_window(wid)) {
-        panic("curses_add_nhwin: wid out of range. Not a main window.");
+        impossible("curses_add_nhwin: wid %d out of range. Not a main window.", wid);
+        return;
     }
 
     nhwins[wid].nhwin = wid;
@@ -300,7 +305,8 @@ curses_del_nhwin(winid wid)
     }
 
     if (!is_main_window(wid)) {
-        panic("curses_del_nhwin: wid out of range. Not a main window.");
+        impossible("curses_del_nhwin: wid %d out of range. Not a main window.", wid);
+        return;
     }
 
     nhwins[wid].curwin = NULL;
@@ -390,7 +396,10 @@ void
 curses_get_window_xy(winid wid, int *x, int *y)
 {
     if (!is_main_window(wid)) {
-        panic("curses_get_window_xy: wid out of range. Not a main window.");
+        impossible("curses_get_window_xy: wid %d out of range. Not a main window.", wid);
+        *x = 0;
+        *y = 0;
+        return;
     }
 
     *x = nhwins[wid].x;
@@ -442,8 +451,9 @@ int
 curses_get_window_orientation(winid wid)
 {
     if (!is_main_window(wid)) {
-        panic
-            ("curses_get_window_orientation: wid out of range. Not a main window.");
+        impossible
+            ("curses_get_window_orientation: wid %d out of range. Not a main window.", wid);
+        return CENTER;
     }
 
     return nhwins[wid].orientation;
@@ -480,7 +490,8 @@ curses_puts(winid wid, int attr, const char *text)
 
     if (curses_is_menu(wid) || curses_is_text(wid)) {
         if (!curses_menu_exists(wid)) {
-            panic("curses_puts: Attempted write to nonexistant window!");
+            impossible("curses_puts: Attempted write to nonexistant window %d!", wid);
+            return;
         }
         identifier = malloc(sizeof (anything));
         identifier->a_void = NULL;