diff --git a/include/decl.h b/include/decl.h
index 66bfd74c1..eb3c904c4 100644
--- a/include/decl.h
+++ b/include/decl.h
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ E NEARDATA boolean mrg_to_wielded;
 E NEARDATA boolean defer_see_monsters;
 
 E NEARDATA boolean in_steed_dismounting;
+E NEARDATA boolean has_strong_rngseed;
 
 E const int shield_static[];
 
diff --git a/src/decl.c b/src/decl.c
index 3e9fb82cc..2849418e6 100644
--- a/src/decl.c
+++ b/src/decl.c
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ NEARDATA boolean mrg_to_wielded = FALSE;
 /* weapon picked is merged with wielded one */
 
 NEARDATA boolean in_steed_dismounting = FALSE;
+NEARDATA boolean has_strong_rngseed = FALSE;
 
 NEARDATA coord bhitpos = DUMMY;
 NEARDATA coord doors[DOORMAX] = { DUMMY };
diff --git a/src/hacklib.c b/src/hacklib.c
index 56e301ed2..60f492b37 100644
--- a/src/hacklib.c
+++ b/src/hacklib.c
@@ -899,8 +899,10 @@ init_random()
 void
 reseed_random()
 {
-    /* reseed */
-    init_random();
+   /* only reseed if we are certain that the seed generation is unguessable
+    * by the players. */
+    if (has_strong_rngseed)
+        init_random();
 }
 
 time_t
diff --git a/sys/unix/unixmain.c b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
index 6b3cf5aea..0a1f469a7 100644
--- a/sys/unix/unixmain.c
+++ b/sys/unix/unixmain.c
@@ -776,6 +776,7 @@ sys_random_seed()
     fptr = fopen(DEV_RANDOM, "r");
     if (fptr) {
         fread(&seed, sizeof(long), 1, fptr);
+        has_strong_rngseed = TRUE;
     }
     fclose(fptr);
 #else
diff --git a/sys/winnt/winnt.c b/sys/winnt/winnt.c
index 1a1fa710e..fc75071d8 100644
--- a/sys/winnt/winnt.c
+++ b/sys/winnt/winnt.c
@@ -708,6 +708,7 @@ sys_random_seed(VOID_ARGS)
                                  (ULONG) sizeof ourseed, 0);
         if (status == STATUS_SUCCESS) {
             BCryptCloseAlgorithmProvider(hRa,0);
+            has_strong_rngseed = TRUE;
             Plan_B = FALSE;
         }
     }