diff --git a/doc/fixes34.4 b/doc/fixes34.4
index 02316e495..6faeacc73 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.4
+++ b/doc/fixes34.4
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ shapechangers who take on mimic or hider form will mimic or hide when feasible
 avoid War message if tinning a Rider corpse fails
 prevent long messages from triggering access violation or segmentation fault
 	due to buffer overflow in pline()
+cursed corpse wielded by a monster isn't welded to its hand or paw
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index b4cd47610..4a3320078 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -2510,6 +2510,7 @@ E int FDECL(chwepon, (struct obj *,int));
 E int FDECL(welded, (struct obj *));
 E void FDECL(weldmsg, (struct obj *));
 E void FDECL(setmnotwielded, (struct monst *,struct obj *));
+E boolean FDECL(mwelded, (struct obj *));
 
 /* ### windows.c ### */
 
diff --git a/src/apply.c b/src/apply.c
index e114a914a..ef080c525 100644
--- a/src/apply.c
+++ b/src/apply.c
@@ -2397,7 +2397,7 @@ struct obj *obj;
 		mon_hand = 0;	/* lint suppression */
 
 	    You("wrap your bullwhip around %s.", yname(otmp));
-	    if (gotit && otmp->cursed) {
+	    if (gotit && mwelded(otmp)) {
 		pline("%s welded to %s %s%c",
 		      (otmp->quan == 1L) ? "It is" : "They are",
 		      mhis(mtmp), mon_hand,
diff --git a/src/muse.c b/src/muse.c
index f9e96b4a0..a8466ad42 100644
--- a/src/muse.c
+++ b/src/muse.c
@@ -2210,19 +2210,21 @@ mcould_eat_tin(mon)
 struct monst *mon;
 {
 	struct obj *obj, *mwep;
+	boolean welded_wep;
 
 	/* monkeys who manage to steal tins can't open and eat them
 	   even if they happen to also have the appropriate tool */
 	if (is_animal(mon->data)) return FALSE;
 
 	mwep = MON_WEP(mon);
+	welded_wep = mwep && mwelded(mwep);
 	/* this is different from the player; tin opener or dagger doesn't
 	   have to be wielded, and knife can be used instead of dagger
 	   (even so, non-nymphs don't pick up tins, so only nymphs might
 	   end up being able to benefit from them) */
 	for (obj = mon->minvent; obj; obj = obj->nobj) {
 	    /* if stuck with a cursed weapon, don't check rest of inventory */
-	    if (mwep && mwep->cursed && obj != mwep) continue;
+	    if (welded_wep && obj != mwep) continue;
 
 	    if (obj->otyp == TIN_OPENER ||
 		(obj->oclass == WEAPON_CLASS &&
diff --git a/src/weapon.c b/src/weapon.c
index cc148852f..1127d0ddd 100644
--- a/src/weapon.c
+++ b/src/weapon.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)weapon.c	3.5	2006/12/14	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)weapon.c	3.5	2007/02/09	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ register struct monst *mtmp;
 		case P_CROSSBOW:
 		  propellor = (oselect(mtmp, CROSSBOW));
 		}
-		if ((otmp = MON_WEP(mtmp)) && otmp->cursed && otmp != propellor
+		if ((otmp = MON_WEP(mtmp)) && mwelded(otmp) && otmp != propellor
 				&& mtmp->weapon_check == NO_WEAPON_WANTED)
 			propellor = 0;
 	    }
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ register struct monst *mtmp;
 		if (rwep[i] != LOADSTONE) {
 			/* Don't throw a cursed weapon-in-hand or an artifact */
 			if ((otmp = oselect(mtmp, rwep[i])) && !otmp->oartifact
-			    && (!otmp->cursed || otmp != MON_WEP(mtmp)))
+			    && !(otmp == MON_WEP(mtmp) && mwelded(otmp)))
 				return(otmp);
 		} else for(otmp=mtmp->minvent; otmp; otmp=otmp->nobj) {
 		    if (otmp->otyp == LOADSTONE && !otmp->cursed)
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ boolean polyspot;
 	 * polymorphed into little monster.  But it's not quite clear how to
 	 * handle this anyway....
 	 */
-	if (!(mw_tmp->cursed && mon->weapon_check == NO_WEAPON_WANTED))
+	if (!(mwelded(mw_tmp) && mon->weapon_check == NO_WEAPON_WANTED))
 	    mon->weapon_check = NEED_WEAPON;
 	return;
 }
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ register struct monst *mon;
 		 * can know it's cursed and needn't even bother trying.
 		 * Still....
 		 */
-		if (mw_tmp && mw_tmp->cursed && mw_tmp->otyp != CORPSE) {
+		if (mw_tmp && mwelded(mw_tmp)) {
 		    if (canseemon(mon)) {
 			char welded_buf[BUFSZ];
 			const char *mon_hand = mbodypart(mon, HAND);
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ register struct monst *mon;
 		mon->weapon_check = NEED_WEAPON;
 		if (canseemon(mon)) {
 		    pline("%s wields %s!", Monnam(mon), doname(obj));
-		    if (obj->cursed && obj->otyp != CORPSE) {
+		    if (mwelded(mw_tmp)) {
 			pline("%s %s to %s %s!",
 			    Tobjnam(obj, "weld"),
 			    is_plural(obj) ? "themselves" : "itself",
diff --git a/src/wield.c b/src/wield.c
index 3a4883e0a..c0ac03192 100644
--- a/src/wield.c
+++ b/src/wield.c
@@ -855,4 +855,14 @@ register struct obj *obj;
 	obj->owornmask = savewornmask;
 }
 
+/* test whether monster's wielded weapon is stuck to hand/paw/whatever */
+boolean
+mwelded(obj)
+struct obj *obj;
+{
+    /* caller is responsible for making sure this is a monster's item */
+    if (obj && (obj->owornmask & W_WEP) && will_weld(obj)) return TRUE;
+    return FALSE;
+}
+
 /*wield.c*/