diff --git a/src/allmain.c b/src/allmain.c
index cc50d020f..a60f2c4ac 100644
--- a/src/allmain.c
+++ b/src/allmain.c
@@ -559,7 +559,6 @@ newgame()
     init_artifacts(); /* before u_init() in case $WIZKIT specifies
                        * any artifacts */
     u_init();
-    objects[WAN_NOTHING].oc_dir = (ubirthday % 2L) ? NODIR : IMMEDIATE;
 
 #ifndef NO_SIGNAL
     (void) signal(SIGINT, (SIG_RET_TYPE) done1);
diff --git a/src/o_init.c b/src/o_init.c
index 9c381619a..e31484caf 100644
--- a/src/o_init.c
+++ b/src/o_init.c
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ init_objects()
 #ifdef USE_TILES
     shuffle_tiles();
 #endif
+    objects[WAN_NOTHING].oc_dir = rn2(2) ? NODIR : IMMEDIATE;
 }
 
 /* retrieve the range of objects that otyp shares descriptions with */