diff --git a/src/do_name.c b/src/do_name.c
index 0880333bc..ed88d2dab 100644
--- a/src/do_name.c
+++ b/src/do_name.c
@@ -2209,9 +2209,22 @@ obj_pmname(struct obj *obj)
         int cgend = (obj->spe & CORPSTAT_GENDER),
             mgend = ((cgend == CORPSTAT_MALE) ? MALE
                      : (cgend == CORPSTAT_FEMALE) ? FEMALE
-                       : NEUTRAL);
+                       : NEUTRAL),
+            mndx = obj->corpsenm;
 
-        return pmname(&mons[obj->corpsenm], mgend);
+        /* mons[].pmnames[] for monster cleric uses "priest" or "priestess"
+           or "aligned cleric"; we want to avoid "aligned cleric [corpse]"
+           unless it has been explicitly flagged as neuter rather than
+           defaulting to random (which fails male or female check above);
+           role monster cleric uses "priest" or "priestess" or "cleric"
+           without "aligned" prefix so we switch to that; [can't force
+           random gender to be chosen here because splitting a stack of
+           corpses could cause the split-off portion to change gender, so
+           settle for avoiding "aligned"] */
+        if (mndx == PM_ALIGNED_CLERIC && cgend == CORPSTAT_RANDOM)
+            mndx = PM_CLERIC;
+
+        return pmname(&mons[mndx], mgend);
     }
     return "two-legged glorkum-seeker";
 }
diff --git a/src/objnam.c b/src/objnam.c
index 7bf853fc9..c26ecac6b 100644
--- a/src/objnam.c
+++ b/src/objnam.c
@@ -1560,11 +1560,6 @@ corpse_xname(
         mnam = OBJ_NAME(objects[otmp->otyp]); /* "glob of <monster>" */
     } else if (omndx == NON_PM) { /* paranoia */
         mnam = "thing";
-        /* [Possible enhancement:  check whether corpse has monster traits
-            attached in order to use priestname() for priests and minions.] */
-    } else if (omndx == PM_ALIGNED_CLERIC) {
-        /* avoid "aligned priest"; it just exposes internal details */
-        mnam = "priest";
     } else {
         mnam = obj_pmname(otmp);
         if (the_unique_pm(&mons[omndx]) || type_is_pname(&mons[omndx])) {