diff --git a/src/invent.c b/src/invent.c
index 66e7e7307..12f0ef1b3 100644
--- a/src/invent.c
+++ b/src/invent.c
@@ -973,12 +973,18 @@ register const char *let,*word;
 		}
 		if(ilet == '-') {
 		    if (!allownone) {
+			char *suf = NULL;
 			strcpy(buf, word);
+			if ((bp = strstr(buf, " on the ")) != NULL) { /* rub on the stone[s] */
+			    *bp = '\0';
+			    suf = (bp + 1);
+			}
 			if ((bp = strstr(buf, " or ")) != NULL) {
 			    *bp = '\0';
 			    bp = (rn2(2) ? buf : (bp + 4));
 			} else bp = buf;
-			You("mime %s something.", ing_suffix(bp));
+			You("mime %s something%s%s.", ing_suffix(bp),
+			    suf ? " " : "", suf ? suf : "");
 		    }
 		    return(allownone ? &zeroobj : (struct obj *) 0);
 		}