diff --git a/doc/fixes34.4 b/doc/fixes34.4
index 8e10929d0..ba9ef3bdc 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.4
+++ b/doc/fixes34.4
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ interrupt current activity during certain stages of petrification or vomiting
 warning about bad food didn't recognize tin of Medusa meat
 eating tainted Medusa corpse caused food poisioning instead of petrification
 avoid potential stale pointer use after magic bag explosion
+monkeys can't steal rings worn under cursed weapon
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/steal.c b/src/steal.c
index ba6886a5d..c94c9af8b 100644
--- a/src/steal.c
+++ b/src/steal.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	SCCS Id: @(#)steal.c	3.5	2004/11/11	*/
+/*	SCCS Id: @(#)steal.c	3.5	2005/02/09	*/
 /* Copyright (c) Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1985. */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details. */
 
@@ -315,7 +315,11 @@ gotobj:
 	    else if (otmp == uquiver || (otmp == uswapwep && !u.twoweap))
 		ostuck = FALSE;	/* not really worn; curse doesn't matter */
 	    else
-		ostuck = (otmp->cursed && otmp->owornmask);
+		ostuck = ((otmp->cursed && otmp->owornmask) ||
+			  /* nymphs can steal rings from under
+			     cursed weapon but animals can't */
+			  (otmp == uright && welded(uwep)) ||
+			  (otmp == uleft && welded(uwep) && bimanual(uwep)));
 
 	    if (ostuck || !can_carry(mtmp, otmp)) {
 		static const char * const how[] = { "steal","snatch","grab","take" };