diff --git a/include/hack.h b/include/hack.h
index df0aab3e5..59beb4ce7 100644
--- a/include/hack.h
+++ b/include/hack.h
@@ -408,6 +408,8 @@ typedef uint32_t mmflags_nht;     /* makemon MM_ flags */
                                   * or m_initweap() (lawful Angel) */
 /* flag congrolling potential livelog event of finding an artifact */
 #define ONAME_KNOW_ARTI  0x0100U /* hero is already aware of this artifact */
+/* flag for suppressing perm_invent update when name gets assigned */
+#define ONAME_SKIP_INVUPD 0x0200U /* don't call update_inventory() */
 
 /* Flags to control find_mid() */
 #define FM_FMON 0x01    /* search the fmon chain */
diff --git a/src/do_name.c b/src/do_name.c
index 3b1bc72c9..0c6c24cca 100644
--- a/src/do_name.c
+++ b/src/do_name.c
@@ -1358,11 +1358,12 @@ struct obj *
 oname(
     struct obj *obj,  /* item to assign name to */
     const char *name, /* name to assign */
-    unsigned oflgs)   /* flags for artifact creation; otherwise ignored */
+    unsigned oflgs)   /* flags, mostly for artifact creation */
 {
     int lth;
     char buf[PL_PSIZ];
-    boolean via_naming = (oflgs & ONAME_VIA_NAMING) != 0;
+    boolean via_naming = (oflgs & ONAME_VIA_NAMING) != 0,
+            skip_inv_update = (oflgs & ONAME_SKIP_INVUPD) != 0;
 
     lth = *name ? (int) (strlen(name) + 1) : 0;
     if (lth > PL_PSIZ) {
@@ -1405,7 +1406,7 @@ oname(
                                ansimpleoname(obj), bare_artifactname(obj));
         }
     }
-    if (carried(obj))
+    if (carried(obj) && !skip_inv_update)
         update_inventory();
     return obj;
 }
diff --git a/src/invent.c b/src/invent.c
index a1412399b..ce7dd7a2f 100644
--- a/src/invent.c
+++ b/src/invent.c
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ merged(struct obj **potmp, struct obj **pobj)
         else if (!Is_pudding(otmp))
             otmp->owt += obj->owt;
         if (!has_oname(otmp) && has_oname(obj))
-            otmp = *potmp = oname(otmp, ONAME(obj), ONAME_NO_FLAGS);
+            otmp = *potmp = oname(otmp, ONAME(obj), ONAME_SKIP_INVUPD);
         obj_extract_self(obj);
 
         if (obj->pickup_prev && otmp->where == OBJ_INVENT)
diff --git a/src/mkobj.c b/src/mkobj.c
index d23c2c0df..ce8286a50 100644
--- a/src/mkobj.c
+++ b/src/mkobj.c
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ copy_oextra(struct obj *obj2, struct obj *obj1)
     if (!obj2->oextra)
         obj2->oextra = newoextra();
     if (has_oname(obj1))
-        oname(obj2, ONAME(obj1), ONAME_NO_FLAGS);
+        oname(obj2, ONAME(obj1), ONAME_SKIP_INVUPD);
     if (has_omonst(obj1)) {
         if (!OMONST(obj2))
             newomonst(obj2);
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ splitobj(struct obj *obj, long num)
         splitbill(obj, otmp);
     copy_oextra(otmp, obj);
     if (has_omid(otmp))
-        free_omid(otmp); /* only one association with m_id*/
+        free_omid(otmp); /* only one association with m_id */
     if (obj->timed)
         obj_split_timers(obj, otmp);
     if (obj_sheds_light(obj))