diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 931bc1456..8eeaf7010 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ extern void init_artifacts(void);
 extern void save_artifacts(NHFILE *);
 extern void restore_artifacts(NHFILE *);
 extern const char *artiname(int);
-extern struct obj *mk_artifact(struct obj *, aligntyp, uchar);
+extern struct obj *mk_artifact(struct obj *, aligntyp, uchar, boolean);
 extern const char *artifact_name(const char *, short *, boolean) NONNULLARG1;
 extern boolean exist_artifact(int, const char *) NONNULLPTRS;
 extern void artifact_exists(struct obj *, const char *, boolean, unsigned) ;
diff --git a/src/artifact.c b/src/artifact.c
index 9537df732..446e4ab95 100644
--- a/src/artifact.c
+++ b/src/artifact.c
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@ struct obj *
 mk_artifact(
     struct obj *otmp,    /* existing object; ignored if alignment specified */
     aligntyp alignment,  /* target alignment, or A_NONE */
-    uchar max_giftvalue) /* cap on generated giftvalue */
+    uchar max_giftvalue, /* cap on generated giftvalue */
+    boolean adjust_spe)  /* whether to add spe to situational artifacts */
 {
     const struct artifact *a;
     int m, n, altn;
@@ -237,10 +238,10 @@ mk_artifact(
         a = &artilist[m];
 
         /* make an appropriate object if necessary, then christen it */
-        if (by_align) {
-            int new_spe;
+        otmp = mksobj((int) a->otyp, TRUE, FALSE);
 
-            otmp = mksobj((int) a->otyp, TRUE, FALSE);
+        if (adjust_spe) {
+            int new_spe;
 
             /* Adjust otmp->spe by a->gen_spe. (This is a no-op for
                non-weapons, which always have a gen_spe of 0, and for many
diff --git a/src/mkobj.c b/src/mkobj.c
index ae26c4430..e332502bd 100644
--- a/src/mkobj.c
+++ b/src/mkobj.c
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ mksobj_init(struct obj *otmp, boolean artif)
             otmp->opoisoned = 1;
 
         if (artif && !rn2(20 + (10 * nartifact_exist())))
-            otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, (aligntyp) A_NONE, 99);
+            otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, (aligntyp) A_NONE, 99, TRUE);
         break;
     case FOOD_CLASS:
         otmp->oeaten = 0;
@@ -1084,7 +1084,7 @@ mksobj_init(struct obj *otmp, boolean artif)
         } else
             blessorcurse(otmp, 10);
         if (artif && !rn2(40 + (10 * nartifact_exist())))
-            otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, (aligntyp) A_NONE, 99);
+            otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, (aligntyp) A_NONE, 99, TRUE);
         /* simulate lacquered armor for samurai */
         if (Role_if(PM_SAMURAI) && otmp->otyp == SPLINT_MAIL
             && (svm.moves <= 1 || In_quest(&u.uz))) {
@@ -1230,7 +1230,7 @@ mksobj(int otyp, boolean init, boolean artif)
 
     /* unique objects may have an associated artifact entry */
     if (objects[otyp].oc_unique && !otmp->oartifact)
-        otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, (aligntyp) A_NONE, 99);
+        otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, (aligntyp) A_NONE, 99, FALSE);
     otmp->owt = weight(otmp);
     return otmp;
 }
diff --git a/src/mplayer.c b/src/mplayer.c
index acccaf31c..9e839b8fd 100644
--- a/src/mplayer.c
+++ b/src/mplayer.c
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ mk_mplayer(struct permonst *ptr, coordxy x, coordxy y, boolean special)
             else if (!rn2(2))
                 otmp->greased = 1;
             if (special && rn2(2))
-                otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, A_NONE, 99);
+                otmp = mk_artifact(otmp, A_NONE, 99, FALSE);
             /* usually increase stack size if stackable weapon */
             if (objects[otmp->otyp].oc_merge && !otmp->oartifact
                 && monmightthrowwep(otmp))
diff --git a/src/pray.c b/src/pray.c
index c47e42f6d..827b03226 100644
--- a/src/pray.c
+++ b/src/pray.c
@@ -1794,7 +1794,7 @@ bestow_artifact(uchar max_giftvalue)
     if (do_bestow) {
         struct obj *otmp;
         otmp = mk_artifact((struct obj *) 0, a_align(u.ux, u.uy),
-                           max_giftvalue);
+                           max_giftvalue, TRUE);
         if (otmp) {
             char buf[BUFSZ];