diff --git a/doc/fixes36.1 b/doc/fixes36.1
index 0c8a42b91..f8139b1ae 100644
--- a/doc/fixes36.1
+++ b/doc/fixes36.1
@@ -427,6 +427,8 @@ when configured with DUMPLOG enabled, artifacts were counted twice towards
 once Moloch's Sanctum (or Astral Plane via wizard mode level teleport direct
 	to end-game) was entered, end of game disclosure would reveal that
 	high priests had been incorrectly flagged as extinct
+attempting to name an item as an artifact and failing via hand slip violates
+	illiterate conduct
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/do_name.c b/src/do_name.c
index 34a853159..aa8bdf1e9 100644
--- a/src/do_name.c
+++ b/src/do_name.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.6	do_name.c	$NHDT-Date: 1489494376 2017/03/14 12:26:16 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6.0 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.116 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.6	do_name.c	$NHDT-Date: 1495494156 2017/05/22 23:02:36 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6.0 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.118 $ */
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -1081,6 +1081,9 @@ register struct obj *obj;
         pline("While engraving, your %s slips.", body_part(HAND));
         display_nhwindow(WIN_MESSAGE, FALSE);
         You("engrave: \"%s\".", buf);
+        /* violate illiteracy conduct since hero attempted to write
+           a valid artifact name */
+        u.uconduct.literate++;
     }
     ++via_naming; /* This ought to be an argument rather than a static... */
     obj = oname(obj, buf);