diff --git a/src/mon.c b/src/mon.c
index a5e626acf..5d736be1e 100644
--- a/src/mon.c
+++ b/src/mon.c
@@ -4760,7 +4760,7 @@ select_newcham_form(struct monst* mon)
         } while (--tryct > 0 && !validspecmon(mon, mndx)
                  /* try harder to select uppercase monster on rogue level */
                  && (tryct > 40 && Is_rogue_level(&u.uz)
-                     && !isupper((uchar) mons[mndx].mlet)));
+                     && !isupper(monsym(&mons[mndx]))));
     }
     return mndx;
 }
@@ -4865,7 +4865,7 @@ newcham(
             /* for the first several tries we require upper-case on
                the rogue level (after that, we take whatever we get) */
             if (tryct > 15 && Is_rogue_level(&u.uz)
-                && mdat && !isupper((uchar) mdat->mlet))
+                && mdat && !isupper(monsym(mdat)))
                 mdat = 0;
             if (mdat)
                 break;
diff --git a/src/wizard.c b/src/wizard.c
index 16473254e..26d27a782 100644
--- a/src/wizard.c
+++ b/src/wizard.c
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ pick_nasty(
      * but we don't try very hard.
      */
     if (Is_rogue_level(&u.uz)
-        && !('A' <= mons[res].mlet && mons[res].mlet <= 'Z'))
+        && !('A' <= monsym(&mons[res]) && monsym(&mons[res]) <= 'Z'))
         res = ROLL_FROM(nasties);
 
     /* if genocided or too difficult or out of place, try a substitute