diff --git a/src/makemon.c b/src/makemon.c
index 2350e77a0..6d3635cd2 100644
--- a/src/makemon.c
+++ b/src/makemon.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.6	makemon.c	$NHDT-Date: 1561236435 2019/06/22 20:47:15 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.138 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.6	makemon.c	$NHDT-Date: 1570569787 2019/10/08 21:23:07 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.140 $ */
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /*-Copyright (c) Robert Patrick Rankin, 2012. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ register struct monst *mtmp;
     register struct permonst *ptr = mtmp->data;
     register int mm = monsndx(ptr);
     struct obj *otmp;
-    int bias, spe2, w1, w2;
+    int bias, w1, w2;
 
     if (Is_rogue_level(&u.uz))
         return;
@@ -259,12 +259,10 @@ register struct monst *mtmp;
         } else if (ptr->msound == MS_PRIEST
                    || quest_mon_represents_role(ptr, PM_PRIEST)) {
             otmp = mksobj(MACE, FALSE, FALSE);
-            if (otmp) {
-                otmp->spe = rnd(3);
-                if (!rn2(2))
-                    curse(otmp);
-                (void) mpickobj(mtmp, otmp);
-            }
+            otmp->spe = rnd(3);
+            if (!rn2(2))
+                curse(otmp);
+            (void) mpickobj(mtmp, otmp);
         } else if (mm == PM_NINJA) { /* extra quest villains */
             (void) mongets(mtmp, rn2(4) ? SHURIKEN : DART);
             (void) mongets(mtmp, rn2(4) ? SHORT_SWORD : AXE);
@@ -336,14 +334,13 @@ register struct monst *mtmp;
                              artiname(rn2(2) ? ART_DEMONBANE : ART_SUNSWORD));
             bless(otmp);
             otmp->oerodeproof = TRUE;
-            spe2 = rn2(4);
-            otmp->spe = max(otmp->spe, spe2);
+            otmp->spe = rn2(4);
             (void) mpickobj(mtmp, otmp);
 
             otmp = mksobj(!rn2(4) || is_lord(ptr) ? SHIELD_OF_REFLECTION
                                                   : LARGE_SHIELD,
                           FALSE, FALSE);
-            otmp->cursed = FALSE;
+            /* uncurse(otmp); -- mksobj(,FALSE,) item is always uncursed */
             otmp->oerodeproof = TRUE;
             otmp->spe = 0;
             (void) mpickobj(mtmp, otmp);
diff --git a/src/mkobj.c b/src/mkobj.c
index d3cede639..24124f706 100644
--- a/src/mkobj.c
+++ b/src/mkobj.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.6	mkobj.c	$NHDT-Date: 1570566379 2019/10/08 20:26:19 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.152 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.6	mkobj.c	$NHDT-Date: 1570569798 2019/10/08 21:23:18 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.153 $ */
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /*-Copyright (c) Derek S. Ray, 2015. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
@@ -1064,6 +1064,7 @@ boolean artif;
         default:
             impossible("impossible mkobj %d, sym '%c'.", otmp->otyp,
                        objects[otmp->otyp].oc_class);
+            dealloc_obj(otmp); /* free() would suffice here */
             return (struct obj *) 0;
         }
     }