diff --git a/dat/medusa-1.lua b/dat/medusa-1.lua
index f97100811..85f053a06 100644
--- a/dat/medusa-1.lua
+++ b/dat/medusa-1.lua
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ des.map([[
 -- Dungeon Description
 des.region(selection.area(00,00,74,19),"lit")
 des.region(selection.area(31,07,45,07),"unlit")
--- make the downstairs room a real room to control arriving monsters
+-- make the downstairs room a real room to control arriving monsters, 
+-- and also as a fixup_special hack; the first room defined on Medusa's level
+-- receives some statues
 des.region({ region={35,09, 41,10}, lit = 0, type="ordinary", arrival_room=true })
 des.region(selection.area(31,12,45,12),"unlit")
 -- Teleport: down to up stairs island, up to Medusa's island
diff --git a/dat/medusa-2.lua b/dat/medusa-2.lua
index 017b9b4b3..5fc0886ea 100644
--- a/dat/medusa-2.lua
+++ b/dat/medusa-2.lua
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ des.map([[
 -- Dungeon Description
 des.region(selection.area(00,00,74,19),"lit")
 des.region(selection.area(02,03,05,16),"unlit")
+-- fixup_special hack: the first room defined on a Medusa level gets some
+-- leaderboard statues; setting the region as irregular makes it a room
 des.region({ region={61,03, 72,16}, lit=0, type="ordinary",irregular = 1 })
 des.region(selection.area(71,08,72,11),"unlit")
 -- make the downstairs area a real room to control arriving monsters
diff --git a/dat/medusa-3.lua b/dat/medusa-3.lua
index 56f37c1c7..65da48b76 100644
--- a/dat/medusa-3.lua
+++ b/dat/medusa-3.lua
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@ place:set(66,05);
 place:set(46,15);
 
 des.region(selection.area(00,00,74,19),"lit")
-des.region({ region={49,14, 51,16}, lit=-1, type="ordinary" });
+-- fixup_special hack: the first room defined on a Medusa level gets some
+-- leaderboard statues, use arrival_room to force it to be a room even though
+-- monsters won't arrive within it
+des.region({ region={49,14, 51,16}, lit=-1, type="ordinary", arrival_room=true });
 des.region(selection.area(07,05,09,07),"unlit")
 des.region(selection.area(65,04,67,06),"unlit")
 des.region(selection.area(45,14,47,16),"unlit")
diff --git a/dat/medusa-4.lua b/dat/medusa-4.lua
index 7df55430c..75e910bf5 100644
--- a/dat/medusa-4.lua
+++ b/dat/medusa-4.lua
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ place:set(10,08);
 place:set(10,12);
 --
 des.region(selection.area(00,00,74,19),"lit")
+-- fixup_special hack: The first "room" region in Medusa levels gets filled with
+-- some leaderboard statues, so this needs to be a room; setting irregular=1
+-- will force this
+des.region({ region={13,03, 18,13}, lit=1, type="ordinary", irregular=1 })
 --
 des.teleport_region({ region = {64,01,74,17}, dir="down" });
 des.teleport_region({ region = {02,02,18,13}, dir="up" });
diff --git a/src/mkmaze.c b/src/mkmaze.c
index ae8e7636b..8987cda95 100644
--- a/src/mkmaze.c
+++ b/src/mkmaze.c
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ fixup_special()
         struct obj *otmp;
         int tryct;
 
-        croom = &g.rooms[0]; /* only one room on the medusa level */
+        croom = &g.rooms[0]; /* the first room defined on the medusa level */
         for (tryct = rnd(4); tryct; tryct--) {
             x = somex(croom);
             y = somey(croom);