diff --git a/src/do.c b/src/do.c
index 30cfb77f1..3069a4047 100644
--- a/src/do.c
+++ b/src/do.c
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ const char *verb;
 			}
 		}
 		deltrap(t);
-		obfree(obj, (struct obj *)0);
+		useupf(obj, 1L);
 		bury_objs(x, y);
 		newsym(x,y);
 		return TRUE;