diff --git a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
index 9e58d6ac7..0e9617183 100644
--- a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
+++ b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
@@ -1851,6 +1851,7 @@ debug fuzzer was triggering out of bounds array access in loseexp() if
 	life-saving at level 1 used blessed restore ability to regain lost
 	levels and restored those all the way to level 30; introducing an
 	assert(u.ulevel < MAXULEV) changed bounds issue to assertion failure
+strength less than 25 was unintentionally being capped at 18/07
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x Platform and/or Interface Problems Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/src/attrib.c b/src/attrib.c
index f4343a7fd..2644f402a 100644
--- a/src/attrib.c
+++ b/src/attrib.c
@@ -1167,6 +1167,11 @@ acurr(int chridx)
            STR19(y) yields 100 + y (intended for 19 <= y <= 25) */
         if (tmp >= STR19(25) || (uarmg && uarmg->otyp == GAUNTLETS_OF_POWER))
             result = STR19(25); /* 125 */
+        else
+            /* need non-zero here to avoid 'if(result==0)' below because
+               that doesn't deal with Str encoding; the cap of 25 applied
+               there would limit Str to 18/07 [18 + 7] */
+            result = max(tmp, 3);
     } else if (chridx == A_CHA) {
         if (tmp < 18 && (gy.youmonst.data->mlet == S_NYMPH
                          || u.umonnum == PM_AMOROUS_DEMON))