diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index cc26e7d0b..a5ac7055a 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -1733,7 +1733,7 @@ E void FDECL(free_epri, (struct monst *));
 
 E void NDECL(onquest);
 E void NDECL(nemdead);
-E void NDECL(artitouch);
+E void FDECL(artitouch, (struct obj *));
 E boolean NDECL(ok_to_quest);
 E void FDECL(leader_speaks, (struct monst *));
 E void NDECL(nemesis_speaks);
diff --git a/src/invent.c b/src/invent.c
index 8040d0024..f6cf34fc2 100644
--- a/src/invent.c
+++ b/src/invent.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)invent.c	3.5	2006/04/15	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)invent.c	3.5	2006/05/17	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ struct obj *obj;
 		    if (u.uhave.questart)
 			impossible("already have quest artifact?");
 		    u.uhave.questart = 1;
-		    artitouch();
+		    artitouch(obj);
 		}
 		set_artifact_intrinsic(obj, 1, W_ART);
 	}
diff --git a/src/quest.c b/src/quest.c
index 116c57806..e261e75ef 100644
--- a/src/quest.c
+++ b/src/quest.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)quest.c	3.5	2000/05/05	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)quest.c	3.5	2006/05/17	*/
 /*	Copyright 1991, M. Stephenson		  */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -82,9 +82,14 @@ nemdead()
 }
 
 void
-artitouch()
+artitouch(obj)
+struct obj *obj;
 {
 	if(!Qstat(touched_artifact)) {
+	    /* in case we haven't seen the item yet (ie, currently blinded),
+	       this quest message describes it by name so mark it as seen */
+	    obj->dknown = 1;
+	    /* only give this message once */
 	    Qstat(touched_artifact) = TRUE;
 	    qt_pager(QT_GOTIT);
 	    exercise(A_WIS, TRUE);