diff --git a/doc/fixes37.0 b/doc/fixes37.0
index 09d6858ea..50009c5db 100644
--- a/doc/fixes37.0
+++ b/doc/fixes37.0
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ poly'd hero was able to zap wands, apply tools, and #rub objects without
 	having any hands
 spellcasting monster got an extra move after casting
 allow defining #wizgenesis quantity in the prompt
+digging through iron bars from an adjacent pit made a pit on top of the bars
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index fb493078c..d3b7eab20 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -630,6 +630,9 @@ E void FDECL(u_on_sstairs, (int));
 E void NDECL(u_on_upstairs);
 E void NDECL(u_on_dnstairs);
 E boolean FDECL(On_stairs, (XCHAR_P, XCHAR_P));
+E boolean FDECL(On_ladder, (XCHAR_P, XCHAR_P));
+E boolean FDECL(On_stairs_up, (XCHAR_P, XCHAR_P));
+E boolean FDECL(On_stairs_dn, (XCHAR_P, XCHAR_P));
 E void FDECL(get_level, (d_level *, int));
 E boolean FDECL(Is_botlevel, (d_level *));
 E boolean FDECL(Can_fall_thru, (d_level *));
@@ -1551,6 +1554,7 @@ E boolean FDECL(monhaskey, (struct monst *, BOOLEAN_P));
 E void FDECL(mon_regen, (struct monst *, BOOLEAN_P));
 E int FDECL(dochugw, (struct monst *));
 E boolean FDECL(onscary, (int, int, struct monst *));
+E struct monst *FDECL(find_pmmonst, (int));
 E int FDECL(bee_eat_jelly, (struct monst *, struct obj *));
 E void FDECL(monflee, (struct monst *, int, BOOLEAN_P, BOOLEAN_P));
 E void FDECL(mon_yells, (struct monst *, const char *));
diff --git a/src/cmd.c b/src/cmd.c
index 34bedb284..4264e1e28 100644
--- a/src/cmd.c
+++ b/src/cmd.c
@@ -3835,17 +3835,13 @@ boolean doit;
         add_herecmd_menuitem(win, dosit,
                              "Sit on the throne");
 
-    if ((u.ux == xupstair && u.uy == yupstair)
-        || (u.ux == g.sstairs.sx && u.uy == g.sstairs.sy && g.sstairs.up)
-        || (u.ux == xupladder && u.uy == yupladder)) {
+    if (On_stairs_up(u.ux, u.uy)) {
         Sprintf(buf, "Go up the %s",
                 (u.ux == xupladder && u.uy == yupladder)
                 ? "ladder" : "stairs");
         add_herecmd_menuitem(win, doup, buf);
     }
-    if ((u.ux == xdnstair && u.uy == ydnstair)
-        || (u.ux == g.sstairs.sx && u.uy == g.sstairs.sy && !g.sstairs.up)
-        || (u.ux == xdnladder && u.uy == ydnladder)) {
+    if (On_stairs_dn(u.ux, u.uy)) {
         Sprintf(buf, "Go down the %s",
                 (u.ux == xupladder && u.uy == yupladder)
                 ? "ladder" : "stairs");
@@ -3955,16 +3951,10 @@ int x, y, mod;
             } else if (IS_THRONE(levl[u.ux][u.uy].typ)) {
                 cmd[0] = cmd_from_func(dosit);
                 return cmd;
-            } else if ((u.ux == xupstair && u.uy == yupstair)
-                       || (u.ux == g.sstairs.sx && u.uy == g.sstairs.sy
-                           && g.sstairs.up)
-                       || (u.ux == xupladder && u.uy == yupladder)) {
+            } else if (On_stairs_up(u.ux, u.uy)) {
                 cmd[0] = cmd_from_func(doup);
                 return cmd;
-            } else if ((u.ux == xdnstair && u.uy == ydnstair)
-                       || (u.ux == g.sstairs.sx && u.uy == g.sstairs.sy
-                           && !g.sstairs.up)
-                       || (u.ux == xdnladder && u.uy == ydnladder)) {
+            } else if (On_stairs_dn(u.ux, u.uy)) {
                 cmd[0] = cmd_from_func(dodown);
                 return cmd;
             } else if ((o = vobj_at(u.ux, u.uy)) != 0) {
diff --git a/src/dig.c b/src/dig.c
index e86eb5eef..7f08ce170 100644
--- a/src/dig.c
+++ b/src/dig.c
@@ -1635,6 +1635,7 @@ char *msg;
     } else if (ltyp == IRONBARS) {
         /* "set of iron bars" */
         Strcpy(msg, "The bars go much deeper than your pit.");
+        return FALSE;
 #if 0
     } else if (is_lava(cc->x, cc->y)) {
     } else if (is_ice(cc->x, cc->y)) {
@@ -1644,8 +1645,7 @@ char *msg;
     } else if (IS_SINK(ltyp)) {
         Strcpy(msg, "A tangled mass of plumbing remains below the sink.");
         return FALSE;
-    } else if ((cc->x == xupladder && cc->y == yupladder) /* ladder up */
-               || (cc->x == xdnladder && cc->y == ydnladder)) { /* " down */
+    } else if (On_ladder(cc->x, cc->y)) {
         Strcpy(msg, "The ladder is unaffected.");
         return FALSE;
     } else {
@@ -1657,15 +1657,8 @@ char *msg;
             supporting = "throne";
         else if (IS_ALTAR(ltyp))
             supporting = "altar";
-        else if ((cc->x == xupstair && cc->y == yupstair)
-                 || (cc->x == g.sstairs.sx && cc->y == g.sstairs.sy
-                     && g.sstairs.up))
-            /* "staircase up" */
-            supporting = "stairs";
-        else if ((cc->x == xdnstair && cc->y == ydnstair)
-                 || (cc->x == g.sstairs.sx && cc->y == g.sstairs.sy
-                     && !g.sstairs.up))
-            /* "staircase down" */
+        else if (On_stairs(cc->x, cc->y))
+            /* staircase up or down. On_ladder handled above. */
             supporting = "stairs";
         else if (ltyp == DRAWBRIDGE_DOWN   /* "lowered drawbridge" */
                  || ltyp == DBWALL)        /* "raised drawbridge" */
diff --git a/src/dog.c b/src/dog.c
index 5b9cfed69..05f693390 100644
--- a/src/dog.c
+++ b/src/dog.c
@@ -755,17 +755,10 @@ register struct obj *obj;
             return POISON;
         if (obj->otyp == LUMP_OF_ROYAL_JELLY
             && mon->data == &mons[PM_KILLER_BEE]) {
-            struct monst *mtmp = 0;
+            struct monst *mtmp = find_pmmonst(PM_QUEEN_BEE);
 
             /* if there's a queen bee on the level, don't eat royal jelly;
                if there isn't, do eat it and grow into a queen */
-            if ((g.mvitals[PM_QUEEN_BEE].mvflags & G_GENOD) == 0)
-                for (mtmp = fmon; mtmp; mtmp = mtmp->nmon) {
-                    if (DEADMONSTER(mtmp))
-                        continue;
-                    if (mtmp->data == &mons[PM_QUEEN_BEE])
-                        break;
-                }
             return !mtmp ? DOGFOOD : TABU;
         }
         if (!carni && !herbi)
diff --git a/src/dungeon.c b/src/dungeon.c
index 9546b7c3a..59473d6c3 100644
--- a/src/dungeon.c
+++ b/src/dungeon.c
@@ -1524,6 +1524,32 @@ xchar x, y;
                       || (x == g.sstairs.sx && y == g.sstairs.sy));
 }
 
+boolean
+On_ladder(x, y)
+xchar x, y;
+{
+    return (boolean) ((x == xdnladder && y == ydnladder)
+                      || (x == xupladder && y == yupladder));
+}
+
+boolean
+On_stairs_up(x, y)
+xchar x, y;
+{
+    return ((x == xupstair && y == yupstair)
+            || (x == g.sstairs.sx && y == g.sstairs.sy && g.sstairs.up)
+            || (x == xupladder && y == yupladder));
+}
+
+boolean
+On_stairs_dn(x, y)
+xchar x, y;
+{
+    return ((x == xdnstair && y == ydnstair)
+            || (x == g.sstairs.sx && y == g.sstairs.sy && !g.sstairs.up)
+            || (x == xdnladder && y == ydnladder));
+}
+
 boolean
 Is_botlevel(lev)
 d_level *lev;
diff --git a/src/monmove.c b/src/monmove.c
index 4d18d2850..b58d29303 100644
--- a/src/monmove.c
+++ b/src/monmove.c
@@ -252,6 +252,23 @@ struct monst *mon;
     }
 }
 
+struct monst *
+find_pmmonst(pm)
+int pm;
+{
+    struct monst *mtmp = 0;
+
+    if ((g.mvitals[pm].mvflags & G_GENOD) == 0)
+        for (mtmp = fmon; mtmp; mtmp = mtmp->nmon) {
+            if (DEADMONSTER(mtmp))
+                continue;
+            if (mtmp->data == &mons[pm])
+                break;
+        }
+
+    return mtmp;
+}
+
 /* killer bee 'mon' is on a spot containing lump of royal jelly 'obj' and
    will eat it if there is no queen bee on the level; return 1: mon died,
    0: mon ate jelly and lived; -1: mon didn't eat jelly to use its move */
@@ -261,16 +278,8 @@ struct monst *mon;
 struct obj *obj;
 {
     int m_delay;
-    struct monst *mtmp = 0;
+    struct monst *mtmp = find_pmmonst(PM_QUEEN_BEE);
 
-    /* find a queen bee */
-    if ((g.mvitals[PM_QUEEN_BEE].mvflags & G_GENOD) == 0)
-        for (mtmp = fmon; mtmp; mtmp = mtmp->nmon) {
-            if (DEADMONSTER(mtmp))
-                continue;
-            if (mtmp->data == &mons[PM_QUEEN_BEE])
-                break;
-        }
     /* if there's no queen on the level, eat the royal jelly and become one */
     if (!mtmp) {
         m_delay = obj->blessed ? 3 : !obj->cursed ? 5 : 7;