diff --git a/doc/fixes34.1 b/doc/fixes34.1
index 840f402c3..90b768ff7 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.1
+++ b/doc/fixes34.1
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ starved pet raised from dead shouldn't immediately starve again
 skilled spell of detected treasure wasn't acting like blessed potion of
 	object detection (from Roderick Schertler)
 fix end of game attribute disclosure for levitation negated by sink
+kicking a box embedded in a wall will knock it free rather than bust it open
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/dokick.c b/src/dokick.c
index da277b541..51305e83d 100644
--- a/src/dokick.c
+++ b/src/dokick.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)dokick.c	3.4	2002/07/25	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)dokick.c	3.4	2002/09/18	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Izchak Miller, Mike Stephenson, Steve Linhart, 1989. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -406,6 +406,37 @@ xchar x, y;
 				    costly_spot(x, y));
 	insider = (*u.ushops && inside_shop(u.ux, u.uy) &&
 				    *in_rooms(x, y, SHOPBASE) == *u.ushops);
+	isgold = (kickobj->oclass == COIN_CLASS);
+
+	if (IS_ROCK(levl[x][y].typ) || closed_door(x, y)) {
+	    if ((!martial() && rn2(20) > ACURR(A_DEX)) ||
+		    IS_ROCK(levl[u.ux][u.uy].typ) || closed_door(u.ux, u.uy)) {
+		if (Blind)
+		    pline("It doesn't come loose.");
+		else
+		    pline("%s %sn't come loose.",
+			  The(distant_name(kickobj, xname)),
+			  otense(kickobj, "do"));
+		return (!rn2(3) || martial());
+	    }
+	    if (Blind)
+		pline("It comes loose.");
+	    else
+		pline("%s %s loose.",
+		      The(distant_name(kickobj, xname)),
+		      otense(kickobj, "come"));
+	    obj_extract_self(kickobj);
+	    newsym(x, y);
+	    if (costly && (!costly_spot(u.ux, u.uy) ||
+		    !index(u.urooms, *in_rooms(x, y, SHOPBASE))))
+		addtobill(kickobj, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE);
+	    if (!flooreffects(kickobj, u.ux, u.uy, "fall")) {
+		place_object(kickobj, u.ux, u.uy);
+		stackobj(kickobj);
+		newsym(u.ux, u.uy);
+	    }
+	    return 1;
+	}
 
 	/* a box gets a chance of breaking open here */
 	if(Is_box(kickobj)) {
@@ -478,35 +509,6 @@ xchar x, y;
 	/* fragile objects should not be kicked */
 	if (hero_breaks(kickobj, kickobj->ox, kickobj->oy, FALSE)) return 1;
 
-	if (IS_ROCK(levl[x][y].typ) || closed_door(x, y)) {
-		if ((!martial() && rn2(20) > ACURR(A_DEX))
-				 || IS_ROCK(levl[u.ux][u.uy].typ)
-				 || closed_door(u.ux, u.uy)) {
-			if (Blind) pline("It doesn't come loose.");
-			else pline("%s %sn't come loose.",
-				The(distant_name(kickobj, xname)),
-				otense(kickobj, "do"));
-			return(!rn2(3) || martial());
-		}
-		if (Blind) pline("It comes loose.");
-		else pline("%s %s loose.",
-			   The(distant_name(kickobj, xname)),
-			   otense(kickobj, "come"));
-		obj_extract_self(kickobj);
-		newsym(x, y);
-		if (costly && (!costly_spot(u.ux, u.uy)
-			       || !index(u.urooms, *in_rooms(x, y, SHOPBASE))))
-			addtobill(kickobj, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE);
-		if(!flooreffects(kickobj,u.ux,u.uy,"fall")) {
-		    place_object(kickobj, u.ux, u.uy);
-		    stackobj(kickobj);
-		    newsym(u.ux, u.uy);
-		}
-		return(1);
-	}
-
-	isgold = (kickobj->oclass == COIN_CLASS);
-
 	/* too heavy to move.  range is calculated as potential distance from
 	 * player, so range == 2 means the object may move up to one square
 	 * from its current position